ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00108.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY.Considerable progress has been made in the past few years elucidating the molecular mechanisms of cytokine signalling. The interferons (IFNs) have provided a singular system allowing the detailed characterization of a specific cytokine signalling pathway. Studies on the IFN signal transduction pathway have identified protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) that phos‐phorylate signal transducers (STATs) which then bind to DNA promoter sequences and activate gene transcription. Related work has shown that JAKs and STATs are also activated in response to a variety of the cytokines. Thus the novel type of signal transduction pathway identified for the IFNs promises to be more widely utilized than anticipate

ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00109.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY.Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality. A large number of therapeutic approaches has been tried, including interferon (IFN), nucleoside analogues and immunomodulators. To date controlled clinical trials have shown that only IFN is of long‐term value but many patients fail to respond to treatment. New approaches to treating patients with IFN‐resistant hepatitis B are currently undergoing clinical and experimental evaluation, and it seems likely that new therapeutic agents will be available in the near fut

ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00110.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY.To examine whether Indian monkeys are infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV) in nature, serum samples from wild rhesus(Macaca mullata), bonnet(M. radiata)and langur(Presbytes entellus)monkeys were screened for anti‐HEV IgG antibodies in recombinant antigen‐based ELISA assays. The positivity rates were 36.7%. 19.1% and 2% respectively. The protection of such antibodies against human HEV was studied in four rhesus monkeys. Of the two rhesus monkeys with anti‐HEV titres of 100 and 1000 respectively which were inoculated with the KOL‐91 strain of HEV, the former demonstrated a 10‐fold rise in anti‐HEV titres. Anti‐HEV titre in the second rhesus monkey remained unchanged. Neither of the monkeys showed any rise in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) or presence of virus in the faeces, as tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two other rhesus monkeys with anti‐HEV titres of 10000 and 100 respectively were inoculated with the AKL‐90 strain of HEV. Serum ALT levels and anti‐HEV titres remained unchanged in the first monkey. Excretion of virus in faeces was not noted (PCR). The second monkey developed a typical HEV infection. HEV infection could be produced in anti‐HEV negative control monkeys inoculated with both strains of HEV. These results show that either human or simian HEV, or a closely related agent, is circulating among Indian macaques. Titre‐dependent protection of naturally occurring anti‐HEV anti

ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00111.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY.It is generally agreed that hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is reduced by hepatitis δ virus infection (HDV) and augmented by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, the precise nature of the interactions between HBV. HDV and HIV is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HIV infection on HBV and HDV replication, and on histological scores during δ virus super‐infection in HDV‐positive. chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We studied 38 men and six women, 15 of whom were HIV‐positive and all of whom had at least one marker of HDV infection. Serum hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBV DNA, HDV RNA, anti‐δ antigen antibodies (anti‐HD) IgM, anti‐HD IgG and hepatitis δ antigen (HDAg) were tested for in the serum and liver, respectively; anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies were detected using a second‐generation recombinant immunoblot assay. Histological specimens were scored blindly according to Knodell's classification for periportal and intralobular necrosis, portal inflammation and fibrosis. HBV DNA was detected more frequently in the HIV‐positive patients than in those who were HIV‐negative (25 vs 0% P = 0.01), while markers of HDV replication (serum anti‐HD IgM. serum HDV RNA and liver HDAg) were as frequent in the HIV‐positive patients (69%, 40% and 50% respectively) as in those who were HIV‐negative (75%, 52% and 30%. respectively; P>0.05). By contrast, 31% of the HIV‐positive patients were serum HDAg‐positive compared to only 6% of the HIV‐negative patients (P = 0.001). HDV antigenaemia and anti‐HD antibodies usually fluctuated in the HIV‐positive patients during follow‐up. The mean Knodell score was similar in the HIV‐positive (11.5 ± 3.2) and HIV‐negative (10.7 ± 2) subgroups, as was the mean semi‐quantitative index of hepatic necrosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Our results provide evidence that in HDV‐positive patients: (1) HIV infection counters the inhibitory effect of HDV superinfection on HBV replication; (2) serum anti‐HD IgM, HDV RNA and liver HDAg are not more frequent in HIV‐positive than in HIV‐negative patients, suggesting that HIV infection has no effect on HDV replication (although the significance of the increased frequency of HD antigenaemia remains unclear): (3) the histological

ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00112.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY.To determine the efficacy of interferon‐α2a in chronic active hepatitis B, 238 patients were randomly divided, into four groups: three groups received either 2.5 MIU m‐2. 5.0 MIUm‐2or 10.0 MIU m‐2, three times weekly by intramuscular injection for 12–24 weeks: and a control group received no treatment. Patients were followed for up to 12 months after treatment was discontinued. There was a statistically significant difference in response [clearance of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B viral DNA (HBV‐DNA)] between treated and untreated patients (3 7 vs 13%) but no statistically significant difference was seen between treatment groups (33% 34% and 43% for the 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 MIU m‐2groups, respectively). A transient rise in transaminases (seroconversion hepatitis) was seen in responders, but levels returned to within the normal range after response to treatment. In patients responding to interferon therapy there was a significant reduction in the severity of the hepatitis. Interferon‐α2a was generally well tolerated with respect to vital signs and labo

ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00113.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY.The age‐specific prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti‐HAV) was determined in 949 Chinese people residing in South Africa in 1983–1985. This small community is comprised of original settlers from the mainland China province of Guandong, where hepatitis A virus infection is endemic, and their South African‐born descendants. The overall anti‐HAV prevalence (by radioimmunoassay) in South African Chinese people was 57.8%, was lowest in children aged 0–9 and 10–19 years (10.0% and 12.8%. respectively), and rose progressively with increasing age to a peak level of 96.6% in the sixth decade of life. A sharp rise in antibody prevalence to 82.9% was observed in the 30–39 year age group, suggesting a high level of child‐hood exposure at a time of socioeconomic development in South Africa. The age‐specific prevalences of anti‐HAV among young South African Chinese people are appreciably lower than those of mainland Chinese children, the majority of whom are infected by age 19 or 20 years. Their rates of infection are also much lower than those for Black South African children living under adverse sanitary conditions. This study indicates that a large proportion of South African Chinese children and adolescents are susceptible to HAV infection and should be included in a broader national

ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00114.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY.We measured the optical densities (OD) of serum anti‐hepatitis C virus IgM core antibodies in 40 HCV‐positive patients (24 males and 16 females) with histologically proven chronic active hepatitis but without cirrhosis. All patients were treated with i.m. injections of 3 MU thrice weekly of interferon‐α (IFN‐α) for 6 months and followed‐up monthly. Optical densities were evaluated in thawed sera before beginning treatment and 6 months after completion, and in fresh sera obtained at the end of an 8–12‐month follow‐up period. Patients were grouped into three categories according to the OD obtained:0.6 (high positivity). According to the response to treatment during the follow‐up period, patients were further divided into three classes: sustained responders: relapsers or partial responders: non‐responders. In each patient, the OD values were similar in the three determinations before, after therapy and at the end of the follow‐up period. All patients with an intermediate positive test for anti‐HCV IgM core antibodies were relapsers or partial responders, and all patients with high OD values were non‐responders. Conversely, 71% of the patients with a negative test were sustained responders. We conclude that this cheap and easily performed test may be useful in predictin

ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00115.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY.To determine the predictive value of IgM anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing in patients with chronic hepatitis C infections undergoing interferon‐α (IFN‐α) therapy, IgM anti‐HCV reactivity was analysed by two different methods (non‐commercial and commercial) in 19 patients and monitored at times 0 (pre‐treatment), 3, 6, 12. and 24 months during follow‐up. Eight patients were non‐responders, five remained in sustained response 1 year after stopping treatment, and six had a relapse. No correlation between alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and IgM anti‐HCV reactivity was found by either method in baseline samples. In addition, neither the presence nor absence of IgM anti‐HCV in baseline samples, nor the loss of specific IgM reactivity during treatment, had any predictive value. Finally, no other parameters analysed (age, sex, risk group and histological diagnosis), were significantly associated with IgM anti‐HCV reactivity in our study. In summary, these results suggest that baseline detection and monitoring of IgM anti‐HCV reactivity are not useful in predicting the sustained response to IFN‐α therapy in c

ISSN:1352-0504    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2893.1994.tb00116.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY