Vaccination coverage and immunity against hepatitis B among HIV-infected patients in South Brazil.

Evidence-based strategies to improve the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination coverage rates might help to reduce the burden caused by co-infection with HBV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this study, the aim was to evaluate the vaccination coverage and immunity against HBV among HIV-infected individuals in South Brazil, and identify factors that are associated with compliance patterns and antibody reactivity. Three hundred HIV-infected men and women were included in this survey.

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection markers and socio-demographic risk factors in HIV-infected patients in Southern Brazil.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are two of the world's most important infectious diseases. Our objective was to determine the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) prevalences among adult HIV-infected patients and identify the associations between socio-demographic variables and these HBV infection markers.

Methods: This study was performed from October 2012 to March 2013.

Immune memory response induced in vitro by recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen challenge 13-18 years after primary vaccination.

The question of whether booster doses are required to maintain long-term protection against hepatitis B virus (HBV) after primary vaccination remains to be determined. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the immune memory responses to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) challenge in vaccinated individuals through an in vitro-specific stimulation assay. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (4 × 10(6)  cells/ml) were stimulated with 50 ng/ml of recombinant HBsAg.

Hepatitis C worldwide and in Brazil: silent epidemic--data on disease including incidence, transmission, prevention, and treatment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is endemic worldwide and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 150 million chronic carriers worldwide. The infection is a leading cause of liver diseases like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); thus, HCV infection constitutes a critical public health problem. There are increasing efforts worldwide in order to reduce the global impact of hepatitis C through the implementation of programmatic actions that may increase the awareness of viral hepatitis and also improve surveillance, prevention, and treatment.

In vitro lymphocyte stimulation by recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen: a tool to detect the persistence of cellular immunity after vaccination.

The study of the human immune response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been hampered by the lack of an adequate model to evaluate the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) specific cell response. Thus, this study was conducted to perform an in vitro analysis of the antigenic properties of recombinant HBsAg and demonstrate the influence of variables such as culture time, antigen concentration and cell density on lymphocyte proliferation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the venous blood of vaccinated individuals, and in vitro cellular immune responses were evaluated using an HBsAg-specific proliferation assay.

Hepatitis B marker seroprevalence and vaccination coverage in adolescents in the City of Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, in 2008.

Introduction: Hepatitis B infection constitutes an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Brazil, however, the current epidemiological situation is not clear. Considering the importance of establishing this prevalence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV markers in voluntary adolescents, junior high (secondary school) students, in the City of Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Anti-HBs levels among children and adolescents with complete immunization schedule against hepatitis B virus. A cross-sectional study in Blumenau, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2007-2008.

Introduction: Vaccination is the main tool for preventing hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection; however, following the completion of the vaccination series, the concentrations of anti-HBs can decline over the years and reach levels less than 10mIU/mL. The persistence of protection in these individuals is still unknown. The present study aimed to determine the anti-HBs antibody levels among children and adolescents who had received a complete vaccination course for hepatitis B.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers in adolescents in Southern Brazil.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers among adolescents aged between 10 and 16 years old, who are elementary school students in the city of Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The study involved a cross-sectional survey that included 418 volunteers, from March to July, 2008. Serology comprised HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C infection markers among children and adolescents in the southern Brazilian region.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections account for a substantial proportion of liver diseases worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV serological markers among children and adolescents and verify the epidemiology of the HBV infection over than a decade of the introduction of vaccination program. Serologic markers to HBsAg, total anti-HBc and anti-HCV had been tested in 393 samples.