Frequency of hepatitis B surface antigen variants (HBsAg) in hepatitis B virus genotype B and C infected East- and Southeast Asian patients: Detection by the Elecsys HBsAg II assay.

Background: To avoid false negative results, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) assays need to detect samples with mutations in the immunodominant 'a' determinant region, which vary by ethnographic region.

Objective: We evaluated the prevalence and type of HBsAg mutations in a hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected East- and Southeast Asian population, and the diagnostic performance of the Elecsys HBsAg II Qualitative assay.

Study Design: We analyzed 898 samples from patients with HBV infection from four sites (China [Beijing and Guangzhou], Korea and Vietnam).

Characterization of SCCA-IgM as a biomarker of liver disease in an Asian cohort of patients.

Viral hepatitis infection is a major global issue and a leading cause of liver disease and associated deaths. Over time, patients infected with hepatitis B (HBV) or C virus (HCV) develop cirrhosis and, eventually, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For this reason, they need to be constantly monitored.

Ultra-deep sequencing reveals high prevalence and broad structural diversity of hepatitis B surface antigen mutations in a global population.

The diversity of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has a significant impact on the performance of diagnostic screening tests and the clinical outcome of hepatitis B infection. Neutralizing or diagnostic antibodies against the HBsAg are directed towards its highly conserved major hydrophilic region (MHR), in particular towards its "a" determinant subdomain. Here, we explored, on a global scale, the genetic diversity of the HBsAg MHR in a large, multi-ethnic cohort of randomly selected subjects with HBV infection from four continents.

Second Asia-Pacific Consensus Guidelines for Helicobacter pylori infection.

The Asia-Pacific Consensus Conference was convened to review and synthesize the most current information on Helicobacter pylori management so as to update the previously published regional guidelines. The group recognized that in addition to long-established indications, such as peptic ulcer disease, early mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type lymphoma and family history of gastric cancer, H. pylori eradication was also indicated for H.

Randomized controlled study investigating viral suppression and serological response following pre-S1/pre-S2/S vaccine therapy combined with lamivudine treatment in HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate viral suppression following combined treatment with an S/pre-S1/pre-S2 vaccine and lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B. We established a randomized, controlled clinical trial to compare the responses of three different treatment groups: those receiving vaccine monotherapy, lamivudine monotherapy, or combination treatment. Viral response was evaluated via hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA suppression using different levels of classification.