利妥昔单抗联合CHOP化疗治疗感染乙肝病毒的非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者的安全性分析

目的:观察利妥昔单抗与CHOP化疗联合治疗感染乙肝病毒(HBV)的非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)患者的有效性及安全性。方法:选取2010年6月至2013年6月35例B细胞NHL住院患者,分为两组,观察组(n=13)为感染HBV患者,接受利妥昔单抗-CHOP化疗方案;对照组(n=22)为非感染HBV的患者,单纯接受CHOP化疗方案,两组治疗4~6疗程,观察两组患者治疗的疗效及肝功能。结果:观察组完全缓解率(CR率)为76.92%,对照组CR率为40.91%(P0.05),两组差异有统计学意义。观察组肝功能损害I~Ⅱ级发生率为23.07%,对照组肝功能损害I~Ⅱ级发生率18.18%(P0.05),观察组毒副反应发生率为30.77%,对照组毒副反应发生率为22.72%(P0.05),两组在肝功能损害及毒副反应上差异无统计学意义。两组患者HBV均未再激活。结论:感染HBV的B细胞NHL患者用R-CHOP联合化疗方案治疗,以及在化疗时预防性、足疗程的抗病毒治疗,可以减少HBV再激活的发生,并且可以降低肝功损害率。     

抗结核药物易导致乙肝伴肺结核患者肝功能损伤

为了分析抗结核药物对乙肝伴肺结核患者肝功能的影响,本研究选取了2015年2月至2017年2月在我院治疗的乙肝病毒标记物阳性伴肺结核患者87例(观察组),同时选取乙肝病毒标记物阴性伴肺结核患者90例作为对照组,均给予2HREZ/4HR抗结核等治疗。通过观察两组治疗后肝损害发生以及肝功指标变化,本研究发现观察组治疗后丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、门冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)和总胆红素(TBil)分别为(240.06±30.44)U/L、(180.04±32.24)U/L和(51.14±6.50)mol/L,明显高于对照组(p0.05);观察组肝功能损害发生率为66.67%,明显高于对照组(p0.05);观察组中,仅HBs Ag阳性者肝功能损害发生率为26.32%,明显低于HBs Ag+HBc Ab、HBs Ag+Hbc Ab+HBe Ab和HBs Ag+Hbc Ab+Hbe Ag患者(p0.05);HBs Ag+Hbc Ab阳性者肝功能损害发生率为61.90%,明显低于HBs Ag+Hbc Ab+Hbe Ag患者(p0.05)。本研究表明,抗结核药物易导致乙肝伴肺结核患者肝功能损伤,且不同乙肝感染类型患者肝损害发生有所差异,在抗结核治疗中应注意对患者肝功能的保护。本研究为乙肝伴肺结核患者的临床药物治疗提供了一定的帮助。     

乙型肝炎患者肝组织损害程度与YMDD变异的相关

目的探讨拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎过程中肝组织损害程度与HBV YMDD变异的相关因素。方法对应用拉米夫定治疗的30例慢性乙型肝炎患者进行肝组织病理学诊断,同时进行肝功能、乙肝病毒血清学标志物、HBV DNA、HBV YMDD变异检测。结果ALT异常率为70%,HBV YMDD变异发生率为30%,肝组织损害程度不影响其治疗效果。结论拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎,随着治疗时间延长,其变异发生率越高;肝组织损害程度不影响其抗病毒疗效。     

实时定量RT-PCR对乙型肝炎病毒全长RNA(fRNA)的定量检测

目的:建立一种简便的定量检测慢性乙型肝炎患者血清中终止于聚腺苷酸化位点的乙型肝炎病毒全长RNA(f RNA)的方法。方法:选取53例未治疗的乙型肝炎患者及22例HBs Ag阴性的健康者为研究对象,使用锚定oligo-d T的引物对其血清中f RNA进行实时定量反转录PCR检测,统计分析其与HBV DNA、HBcr Ag和HBe Ag的相关性。结果:对f RNA进行实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测的下线为2.3 log copies/ml,标准曲线的相关系数为0.99(P0.0001)。53例乙型肝炎患者中,29例(54.7%)可以检测到f RNA,22例正常对照中没有检测到f RNA。27例HBe Ag阳性和/或高水平HBV DNA的患者全部检测到f RNA,26例HBe Ag阴性并且低水平HBV DNA的乙型肝炎患者中有2例(7.7%)检测到f RNA(P0.0001)。HBe Ag阳性患者血清中f RNA水平高于HBe Ag阴性患者(5.0±0.3 vs.2.9±0.4 log copies/ml,P0.001)。f RNA与HBV DNA/HBcr Ag具有显著相关性(r=0.905、0.881,P0.0001)。Hayashi's定量分析法I显示f RNA与HBV DNA相关性强于其与HBcr Ag的相关性。结论:与HBV DNA和HBe Ag一样,f RNA可作为常规检测判断HBV的复制水平并指导用药。     

乙型肝炎人免疫球蛋白预防肝移植术后HBV再感染研究进展

乙型肝炎人免疫球蛋白(HBIG)是含有高效价乙型肝炎表面抗体(HBs Ab)的多克隆球蛋白制剂,其含量占蛋白质总量的96%以上。静脉输注后即刻达到高峰,能与乙肝病毒颗粒外壳上的乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBs Ag)特异性结合发生抗原抗体反应,从而使病毒失去对细胞的侵袭能力,它与拉米夫定联合应用是公认的预防肝移植术后HBV再感染的有效的常规治疗方法。但是,一旦停止HBIG用药,由于拉米夫定存在耐药性问题,HBV再感染率会升高。为此,国内外在HBIG预防肝移植术后HBV再感染长期效果方面做了大量研究工作,并取得了一些进展,现作一简要综述。     

适用于中国人群的隐匿性乙肝病毒感染的检测方法优化研究

隐匿性乙肝病毒感染的诊断,通常使用巢式PCR的方法,来检测血清中的HBV DNA。因中国人群感染乙肝病毒的基因型与国外人群存在差异,故本研究的目的是对现有文献已经介绍的诊断隐匿性乙肝病毒感染的PCR检测方法进行优化,从而适用于中国隐匿性乙肝病毒感染人群的诊断。本研究通过对文献报道的巢式PCR检测方法进行验证,发现其Core/pre-core区段扩增结果不理想,故根据我国乙肝病毒的基因型以及HBV C基因的保守性原则自行设计优化实验。利用临床收集的HBV阳性样本验证其灵敏度及特异度;收集父亲或/和母亲为HBV阳性患者,而孩子HBs Ag结果为阴性的样本来验证其扩增结果。本研究优化设计的检测HBV C基因的引物,具有灵敏度高特异性好的优点。本研究临床收集了100份父亲或/和母亲为HBV阳性患者,而孩子HBs Ag结果为阴性的血清样本,用本研究优化后的引物检测,可以提高隐匿性乙肝病毒的检测分辨率,提高了4倍的检测效率。本研究优化设计的隐匿性乙肝病毒感染的引物可以用于中国人群中隐匿性乙肝病毒感染的检测,具有较高的灵敏度和特异性。     

乙肝患者HBsAg定量与乙肝病毒DNA定量及谷丙转氨酶水平的相关性研究

目的:探讨乙型肝炎患者血清中乙肝表面抗原(HBs Ag)定量与乙肝病毒(HBV)DNA定量及谷丙转氨酶(ALT)水平的相关性。方法:收集124例乙肝患者血清,采用化学发光法检测HBs Ag水平,采用实时荧光定量PCR法检测HBV-DNA水平,采用全自动生化分析仪检测ALT水平,分析三者之间的相关性。结果:HBs Ag水平与HBV-DNA含量存在正相关性,HBV-DNA含量与ALT水平存在正相关性,而HBs Ag水平与ALT水平无明显相关性。结论:联合检测3项指标可对乙肝患者HBV感染、复制、传染性以及机体的免疫性做出准确判断。     

慢性乙型肝炎治疗中HBV YMDD变异的相关因素分析

目的 探讨拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎过程中HBV YMDD变异的相关因素。方法 对应用拉米夫定治疗的22例慢性乙型肝炎患者进行肝功能、乙肝病毒血清学标志物、HBV YMDD变异检测,同时进行肝组织病理学检查。结果 ALT异常率为55%,HBeAg血清转换率为13.6%,HBV YMDD变异发生率为31%,治疗前病毒量的高低不影响其治疗效果。5例患者肝穿组织中HBsAg和HBcAg依然阳性。结论 运用拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎6个月后可出现HBV YMDD变异,随着治疗时间延长,其变异发生率越高;HBeAg血清转换率不高;肝组织内仍处于炎症及纤维化状态。     

乙肝免疫标志物与乙肝病毒核酸含量与肝功能的关系研究

目的:研究乙肝免疫标记物(HBV-M)与乙肝病毒脱氧核苷酸(HBV-DNA)载量与肝功能的关系。方法:检测104例乙肝患者HBs Ag、HBe Ag、HBc Ab、HBs Ab、HBe Ab5种HBV-M;用PCR法检测HBV-DNA含量;同时检测天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、胆碱酯酶(CHE)等肝功能指标,对三者关系采用Spearman相关性分析。结果:HBs Ag、HBc Ab、HBe Ag阳性组HBV-DNA阳性率及载量均大于其余组(P0.05);HBe Ag含量、ALT浓度与HBV-DNA载量均呈正相关(r=0.48,P0.05)、(r=0.36,P0.05);AST、CHE与HBV-DNA含量无明显相关性,但在无病毒载量与有病毒载量组之间AST比较有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:HBV-M、HBV-DNA与肝功能之间有一定的相关性,但HBe Ag阴转不代表病毒复制停止,HBV-DNA也不能完全反应肝损害程度,临床应加大重视。     

乳腺癌患者新辅助化疗后ER、PR、HER2、Ki67表达变化及临床意义

目的:研究乳腺癌患者在新辅助化疗后ER、PR、HER2、Ki67的变化及临床意义。方法:选择2012年1月-2017年12月至我院进行乳腺癌新辅助化疗的患者176例进行临床研究。所有患者化疗前及术后行经B超引导下核芯针穿刺取病理活检,检测ER、PR、Ki67、HER2的表达,分析其变化情况。结果:176例乳腺癌患者新辅助化疗前ER阳性为57例,新辅助化疗后ER阳性为69例,新辅助化疗前ER阴性为119例,新辅助化疗后ER阴性107例;新辅助化疗前后状态改变了34例(19.32%),其中12例新辅助化疗前ER阴性转变为ER阳性,22例新辅助化疗前ER阳性转变为新辅助化疗后ER阴性,化疗前后患者ER表达变化有统计学差异(x~2=8.044,P=0.037);176例乳腺癌患者新辅助化疗前PR阳性为83例,新辅助化疗后PR阳性为89例,新辅助化疗前PR阴性为93例,新辅助化疗后PR阴性87例;新辅助化疗前后状态改变了82例(46.59%),其中45例新辅助化疗前PR阴性转变为PR阳性,37例新辅助化疗前PR阳性转变为新辅助化疗后PR阴性,化疗前后患者PR表达变化有统计学差异(x~2=6.311,P=0.049);176例乳腺癌患者新辅助化疗前HER2阳性为31例,新辅助化疗后HER2阳性为30例,新辅助化疗前HER2阴性为145例,新辅助化疗后HER2阴性146例;新辅助化疗前后状态改变了3例(1.70%),其中1例新辅助化疗前HER2阴性转变为HER2阳性,2例新辅助化疗前HER2阳性转变为新辅助化疗后HER2阴性,化疗前后患者HER2表达变化无统计学差异(x~2=0.522,P=0.945);176例乳腺癌患者新辅助化疗前Ki67阳性为104例,新辅助化疗后Ki67阳性为95例,新辅助化疗前Ki67阴性为72例,新辅助化疗后Ki67阴性81例;新辅助化疗前后状态改变了109例(61.93%),其中54例新辅助化疗前Ki67阴性转变为Ki67阳性,55例新辅助化疗前Ki67阳性转变为新辅助化疗后Ki67阴性,化疗前后患者Ki67表达变化有统计学差异(x~2=2.936,P=0.048),经过新辅助化疗后,Ki67出现上调表达最高,为23.86%,同时也是下调表达最高,为38.07%。HER2表达保持不变最高,为98.30%。结论:新辅助化疗会对乳腺癌患者ER、PR、Ki67的表达造成影响,其中对Ki67的影响最为显著。     

Prophylactic Effect of Lamivudine for Chemotherapy-Induced Hepatitis B Reactivation in Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Three strategies using lamivudine have been proposed to prevent chemotherapy-induced HBV (hepatitis B virus) reactivation in the clinical setting. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy of the early preemptive strategy, deferred preemptive strategy and therapeutic strategy in patients with HBsAg-positive breast cancer during chemotherapy.

Methods

Clinical studies published from database inception until Nov 1, 2014, were included for analysis. The primary outcomes were overall survival, rate of chemotherapy disruption and virological and clinical reactivation. The secondary outcomes were the rates of HBV-related chemotherapy disruption, HBV-related mortality, YMDD mutations and withdrawal hepatitis.

Results

Four hundred and thirty patients in four studies that compared the early preemptive strategy with a therapeutic strategy were included. Application of early preemptive lamivudine was superior in reducing HBV recurrence (pooled OR: 0.12, 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.31, P< 0.0001), the incidence of HBV-related hepatitis (pooled OR: 0.13, 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.37, P< 0.0001) and the rate of chemotherapy disruption (pooled OR: 0.37, 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.60, P< 0.0001). In these two groups, no significant difference was found in overall mortality (P = 0.32), YMDD mutant rate (P = 0.13) or incidence of withdrawal hepatitis (P = 0.38). Of the two studies that compared the efficacy of an early and a deferred preemptive strategy, one showed that an early preemptive strategy significantly reduced the incidence of hepatitis (P = 0.046), whereas the other showed no significant difference (P = 0.7).

Conclusions

An early preemptive strategy is superior to a therapeutic strategy in decreasing the incidence of HBV reactivation, incidence of HBV-related hepatitis and rate of chemotherapy disruption in patients with breast cancer. A deferred preemptive strategy might be an alternative approach to controlling viral replication.     

A Comparison of Entecavir and Lamivudine for the Prophylaxis of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in Solid Tumor Patients Undergoing Systemic Cytotoxic Chemotherapy

Background

Nucleos(t)ide analogues reduce the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in cancer patients undergoing systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy but the experience of solid tumors remains limited. Aims. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of entecavir and lamivudine in the prophylaxis of HBV reactivation in solid tumor patients undergoing systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Methods

HBsAg seropositive patients undergoing systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy for solid tumors with prophylactic entecavir and lamivudine between January 2006 and June 2013 were retrospectively investigated. The incidence of HBV reactivation and outcome of the patients were analyzed. The risk factors of HBV reactivation were examined.

Results

A total of 213 patients (entecavir group, 70 patients; lamivudine group, 143 patients) were evaluated. Less incidence of HBV reactivation was noticed in entecavir group than in lamivudine group (0% vs. 7.0%, P = 0.02). No HBV reactivation was noticed in the patients with a baseline HBV DNA level < 2000 IU/mL. A baseline HBV DNA level ≥ 2000 IU/mL, HBeAg, and lamivudine were significantly associated with HBV reactivation. Subgroup analysis of the patients with a baseline HBV DNA level ≥ 2000 IU/mL found that lamivudine was significantly associated with HBV reactivation. Most of the reactivation events were properly managed by using tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The incidence of hepatitis during chemotherapy and disruption of chemotherapy was similar between patients using entecavir and lamivudine with a baseline HBV DNA level ≥ or < 2000 IU/mL.

Conclusions

A baseline HBV DNA level ≥ 2000 IU/mL, HBeAg, and lamivudine were the risk factors of HBV reactivation during systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy in solid tumor patients. Entecavir was superior to lamivudine in terms of less incidence of reactivation in the patients with a baseline HBV DNA level ≥ 2000 IU/mL. Both agents were equally efficacious in the patients with HBV DNA levels < 2000 IU/mL.     

Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus in HBsAg-Negative Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background & Aims

Despite increasing attention to hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in hematologic settings, information on reactivation in hepatitis B surface (HBsAg)-negative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of HBV reactivation in HBsAg-negative patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods

A total of 109 HBsAg-negative patients with HCC were consecutively recruited for this study and treated with either mono- (n = 75), combination-drug TACE (n = 20), or combination-drug TACE plus radiotherapy (n = 14). With serial monitoring of virological markers every 2–3 months, patients were observed for HBV reactivation (defined as the reappearance of HBV DNA or sero-reversion of HBsAg) in comparison with control subjects with HBsAg-negative cirrhosis (n = 16) or HBsAg loss (n = 46).

Results

During the study period, HBV reactivation occurred in 12 (11.0%) and 1 (1.6%) patients in the TACE and control groups, respectively. The median level of HBV DNA at reactivation was 5,174 copies/ml (range: 216–116,058). Of the 12 patients with HBV reactivation, four (33.3%) developed clinical hepatitis, including one patient who suffered from decompensation. All antiviral-treated patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA or HBsAg loss after commencement of antiviral drugs. TACE was significantly correlated with a high incidence of HBV reactivation, with increasing risk of reactivation with intensive treatment. On multivariate analysis, treatment intensity and a prior history of chronic hepatitis B remained independently predictive of reactivation.

Conclusions

TACE can reactivate HBV replication in HBsAg-negative patients, with a dose-risk relationship between treatment intensity and reactivation. Patients with prior chronic HBV infection who are to undergo intensive TACE should be closely monitored, with an alternative approach of antiviral prophylaxis against HBV reactivation.     

The Compliance of Doctors with Viral Hepatitis B Screening and Antiviral Prophylaxis in Cancer Patients Receiving Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Using a Hospital-Based Screening Reminder System

MethodsUsing a computer-assisted reminder system, doctors were alerted of both HBsAg screening and antiviral prophylaxis prior to prescribing chemotherapy. The compliance between different doctors and outcomes of patients were investigated during the period of execution of this system. The rates of compliance with both recommendations were compared among various cancer types.ResultsA total of 1053 patients were enrolled, of which only 88 had previous data pertaining to HBsAg status. Using this reminder system, an overall screening rate of 85.5% (825/965) was achieved and did not significantly differ according to cancer type. However, the overall antiviral prophylactic rate was only 45.5% (61/134). The rates of antiviral prophylaxis were lower for doctors treating lung, breast and colorectal cancers than for those treating hematological malignancies (all p<0.05). Consequently, the rate of HBV reactivation was lower in patients who received antiviral prophylaxis than in those who did not (1.6% vs. 15.1%; p<0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that male gender and antiviral prophylaxis were both related to reactivation of hepatitis B (p<0.05).ConclusionsBy using this reminder system, the overall screening rate for HBsAg was satisfactory, whereas the antiviral prophylaxis was inadequate in patients with solid tumors due to the varying compliance of the attending doctors. Further strategies to improve both screening and prophylaxis are needed to minimize HBV-related events during cytotoxic chemotherapy.     

A case of hepatitis B reactivation due to the hepatitis B virus escape mutant in a patient undergoing chemotherapy

A 62-year-old man had chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. At the time of diagnosis the patient’s virologic markers were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), while antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and HBV DNA were negative. Later the patient received chemotherapy for malignancy. However, this was interrupted due to elevated liver enzymes. At the same time HBV DNA became positive. Lamivudine (LMV) therapy was administered immediately. However, the levels of serum aminotransferase and total bilirubin (TB) were still rising. Finally the patient died of fulminant hepatic failure. A sequence revealed HBV genotype C (HBsAg subtype adw) with immune escape mutations, F8L, S34L, F41S, G44V, F93C, V96G, L110I, C149Y and F161Y. The high morbidity and mortality of this complication is one of the major obstacles to completing the standard treatment for malignancy in HBV carriers. Therefore, the relative risk of antiviral prophylactic failure should be further assessed and the optimal strategy for antiviral prophylaxis in HBsAg-positive patients with oncologic and hematologic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy should be revised.     

High Risk of Hepatitis B Reactivation among Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. However, the incidence and risk factors of HBV reactivation in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are rarely investigated.MethodsAML patients followed-up at the National Taiwan University Hospital between 2006 and 2012 were analyzed. The clinical characteristics and laboratory data were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsFour hundred and ninety patients comprising 265 men and 225 women were studied. The median age was 52 years (range, 18 - 94). Chronic HBV carriage was documented at the time of leukemia diagnosis in 57 (11.6%) patients. Forty-six (80.7%) of the 57 HBV carriers received prophylaxis with anti-HBV agents. Sixteen HBV carriers (28.1%) developed hepatitis B reactivation during or after chemotherapy, including 7 patients who had discontinued antiviral therapy. The incidence of hepatitis B reactivation among AML patients with HBV carriage was 9.5 per 100 person-years. Prophylaxis with anti-HBV agents significantly decreased the risk of hepatitis B reactivation among HBV carriers (13% vs. 61%, p<0.001). Four (2.8%) of 142 patients with initial positive anti-HBsAb and anti-HBcAb experienced hepatitis B reactivation and lost their protective anti-HBsAb. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus (p=0.008, odds ratio (OR) = 2.841, 95% confident interval (CI): 0.985-8.193) and carriage of HBsAg (p<0.001, OR=36.878, 95% CI: 11.770-115.547) were independent risk factors for hepatitis B reactivation in AML patients.ConclusionsHepatitis B reactivation is not uncommon in the HBsAg positive AML patients. Prophylaxis with anti-HBV agent significantly decreased the risk of hepatitis B reactivation.     

Hepatitis B Infection,Viral Load and Resistance in HIV-Infected Patients in Mozambique and Zambia

Background

Few data on the virological determinants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are available from southern Africa.

Methods

We enrolled consecutive HIV-infected adult patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) at two urban clinics in Zambia and four rural clinics in Northern Mozambique between May 2013 and August 2014. HBsAg screening was performed using the Determine^® rapid test. Quantitative real-time PCR and HBV sequencing were performed in HBsAg-positive patients. Risk factors for HBV infection were evaluated using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests and associations between baseline characteristics and high level HBV replication explored in multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Seventy-eight of 1,032 participants in Mozambique (7.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.1–9.3) and 90 of 797 in Zambia (11.3%, 95% CI: 9.3–13.4) were HBsAg-positive. HBsAg-positive individuals were less likely to be female compared to HBsAg-negative ones (52.3% vs. 66.1%, p<0.001). Among 156 (92.9%) HBsAg-positive patients with an available measurement, median HBV viral load was 13,645 IU/mL (interquartile range: 192–8,617,488 IU/mL) and 77 (49.4%) had high values (>20,000 UI/mL). HBsAg-positive individuals had higher levels of ALT and AST compared to HBsAg-negative ones (both p<0.001). In multivariable analyses, male sex (adjusted odds ratio: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.22–5.53) and CD4 cell count below 200/μl (2.58, 1.20–5.54) were associated with high HBV DNA. HBV genotypes A1 (58.8%) and E (38.2%) were most prevalent. Four patients had probable resistance to lamivudine and/or entecavir.

Conclusion

One half of HBsAg-positive patients demonstrated high HBV viremia, supporting the early initiation of tenofovir-containing ART in HIV/HBV-coinfected adults.     

Differential Effect of Viral Hepatitis Infection on Mortality among Korean Maintenance Dialysis Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study

The role of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in terms of survival among dialysis patients remains incompletely understood. In the present multicenter prospective cohort study, we investigated the prevalences of HBV and HCV infection among 3,321 patients receiving maintenance dialysis in Korea, and assessed the impacts of these infections on survival. All included patients underwent hepatitis B antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (Ab) testing, which revealed that 236 patients (7.1%) were HBsAg-positive, and 123 patients (3.7%) were HCV Ab-positive. HBsAg-positive and HCV Ab-positive patients were matched to hepatitis virus-negative patients using a propensity score at a ratio of 1:2. The prevalences of HBV and HCV infection did not significantly differ according to dialysis modality. Linear-by-linear association analysis revealed that hepatitis B prevalence significantly increased with increasing dialysis vintage (p = 0.001), and hepatitis C prevalence tended to be higher with increasing dialysis vintage (p = 0.074). We compared the survival of HBsAg-positive and HCV Ab-positive patients to that of hepatitis virus-negative patients. After propensity score matching, cumulative survival did not differ between HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative patients (p = 0.37), while HCV Ab-positive patients showed significantly lower survival than HCV Ab-negative patients (p = 0.03). The main conclusions of the present study are that HBV infection prevalence increased with longer dialysis vintage, and that both HBV and HCV infections were most prevalent among patients with the longest dialysis vintage. Additionally, HCV infection among maintenance dialysis patients is associated with an increased risk of mortality.     

Clinicopathologic features and genotyping of patients with chronic HBV infection in the Upper Egypt

The aim of this study was to determine the clinicopathologic features and Hepatitis B virus genotypes in HBV-infected patients in the Upper Egypt. Eighty-three HBsAg-positive patients (28 carriers, 14 with chronic hepatitis, 32 with liver cirrhosis and 9 with hepatocellular carcinoma) were enrolled. Blood was collected and serum samples obtained were screened for Hepatitis markers genotyping was conducted for 6 HBV genotypes (A through F) using a method for genotyping HBV by primer specific polymerase chain reaction. Genotype D was the only genotype detected in different clinical forms of chronic HBV infection (carriers, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and, in all patients who had elevated or normal alanine aminotransferase levels and in all ages. HBeAg was absent in 78 patients suggesting the presence of pre-core or core mutations. Positive correlation was found among serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), histological activity index and grade of hepatitis. This study provides the first indication about the clinicopathologic features of HBV-infected patients in the Upper Egypt. It also reports the predominance of genotype D in this region.     

CART算法在原发性肝癌放疗后HBV再激活的应用

为了建立乙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis B virus,HBV)再激活的预测模型,提出CART(classification and regression tree)特征选择方法应用在原发性肝癌患者精确放疗后HBV再激活的危险因素分析中,进而建立基于CART和Bayes算法的HBV再激活预测模型。实验结果显示:CART算法划分了多组具有优秀分类能力的特征节点集(危险因素),尤其当特征节点集为HBV DNA水平、外放边界、放疗总剂量、V20和KPS评分时,在CART和Bayes预测模型中的分类正确性分别为88.51%和86.69%,得到HBV再激活正确性贡献度的排序为KPS评分全肝平均剂量V20放疗总剂量V10;当甲胎蛋白AFP出现时,增加了HBV再激活的预测正确性。