Phylogenetic analysis of human parvovirus B19, indicating two subgroups of genotype 1 in Vietnamese patients.

Recently, three distinct genotypes (1, 2 and 3) of human parvovirus B19 (B19) have been identified. However, the characteristics and distribution of B19 genotypes in Vietnam have not been investigated. Phylogenetic analysis using 49 subgenomic NS1/VP1u regions and two coding NS1-VP1/VP2 regions has been applied to investigate the prevalence of B19 genotypes in Vietnamese patients co-infected with Hepatitis B virus.

A promoter polymorphism in the interferon alpha-2 gene is associated with the clinical presentation of hepatitis B.

Cytokine gene polymorphisms influence the severity of infectious diseases of viral and parasitic origin. Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) is known to be involved in the defence against hepatitis B. The promoter of the IFN-alpha-2 gene was investigated for mutations in 344 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected Vietnamese patients and 293 uninfected Vietnamese.

Impact of the hepatitis B virus genotype and genotype mixtures on the course of liver disease in Vietnam.

Eight genotypes (A-H) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been identified. However, the impact of different genotypes on the clinical course of hepatitis B infection remains controversial. We investigated the frequency and clinical outcome of HBV genotypes and genotype mixtures in HBV-infected patients from Vietnam, Europe, and Africa.

Does gender, food or grapefruit juice alter the pharmacokinetics of primaquine in healthy subjects?

Aims: To evaluate the effects of gender, food and grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics of primaquine in healthy subjects.

Methods: In a randomized, two-phase cross-over study, 10 male and 10 female healthy Vietnamese subjects were administered 30 mg primaquine in the fasting state or with food, followed by administration of primaquine with grapefruit juice.

Results: The pharmacokinetics of primaquine were comparable between male and female subjects, with geometric mean ratios of Cmax = 0.

Co-infection of human parvovirus B19 in Vietnamese patients with hepatitis B virus infection.

Background/aims: Human parvovirus B19 (B19) has been identified in the serum of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients. However, the effect of B19-infection on the course of HBV-associated liver disease has not previously been investigated. We examined the prevalence of B19-DNA in HBV-infected Vietnamese patients and analysed the association between co-infection and the clinical outcome of HBV-infection.

Variations in the serum concentrations of soluble Fas and soluble Fas ligand in Vietnamese patients infected with hepatitis B virus.

Earlier studies of both chronic hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) patients have shown a strong correlation between the soluble membrane Fas (sFas) and Fas protein expression on hepatocytes. The serum concentrations of sFas and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) was examined in both healthy and HBV-infected Vietnamese patients to determine their relationship with the outcome of HBV infection. Patients with chronic rather than acute HBV had significantly higher amounts of sFas and sFasL, whilst the highest concentrations of both molecules were detected in those with malignant forms of HBV infection.

Serum cytokine profiles associated with clinical presentation in Vietnamese infected with hepatitis B virus.

Background/objectives: An ineffective cytokine response is thought to be one of the reasons for the failure to suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and to eliminate the virus. We investigated the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in HBV-infected Vietnamese patients to determine whether they were related to the outcome of HBV infection.

Study Design: Samples from a total of 154 HBV-infected patients with well-characterised clinical profiles and 56 healthy controls were assessed.

Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphisms and hepatitis B virus infection in Vietnamese patients.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a constituent of the human innate immune system which may play an important role in combating a variety of infectious diseases. We investigated the distribution of MBL gene mutations in a Vietnamese population, using polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequence analysis, and sought associations with the outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. For this purpose we used samples from a total of 123 patients with confirmed, well-defined HBV infections, representing a full spectrum of clinical presentation from acute to chronic to malignant states, as well as from 112 healthy controls.