Viral hepatitis infections in southern Taiwan: a multicenter community-based study.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are major causes of liver disease in Taiwan and have a great impact on the health of this country. This study investigated the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in southern Taiwan. Screening programs were performed from September 1999 to August 2005 for community-based surveillance of liver disease.

Serum retinol-binding protein 4 is inversely correlated with disease severity of chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection carries a significant risk for development of insulin resistance (IR) and/or diabetes mellitus. Recently, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) has been reported as a protein contributing to IR. This study aimed to assess the correlation between RBP4 and disease severity of chronic HCV infection (CHC).

Association between transforming growth factor-beta 1 polymorphism and virologic characteristics of chronic hepatitis C.

The production of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) has been reported as being significantly associated with the gene polymorphism in the leader sequence at positions +29. The current study aimed to evaluate the associations between the polymorphism and the clinical characteristics of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). A total of 422 (252 men; mean age: 49.

Hepatitis C virus infection among children in aboriginal areas in Taiwan.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among adults in aboriginal areas has been shown to be higher than in urban areas in Taiwan. Whether the prevalence of HCV infection is also higher among children in aboriginal areas remains unclear. In total, 1176 schoolchildren in four aboriginal areas were invited to participate in the study.

Reappraisal of the characteristics of glucose abnormalities in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Objectives: There is growing evidence suggesting the mutual link between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the impact of HCV infection on the suite of glucose abnormalities has rarely been investigated. The study aimed to determine the difference regarding the prevalence and the characteristics of glucose abnormalities between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and community-based controls.

Performance characteristics of a real-time RT-PCR assay for quantification of hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with genotype 1 and 2 infections.

Background: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods play an essential role in providing data relating to diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assay is an established and promising tool in terms of quantifying HCV RNA for clinical application. This study aimed to evaluate the performance characteristics of a real-time RT-PCR-based test in a clinical setting.

Changing prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among teenagers in an endemic area in Taiwan.

Tzukuan Township in Taiwan has been reported to be an endemic area for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection both in adults and adolescents. The maritime part of the township carries a higher prevalence than the non-maritime part and, as a consequence, several public education strategies have been introduced during the past decade. The current follow-up study aimed to clarify the changing prevalence of HCV infection among teenagers in the endemic maritime part of Tzukuan.

Associations between hepatitis C viremia and low serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels: a community-based study.

Background/aims: To evaluate the association of virologic status with serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: We conducted a large scale community-based study enrolling 11,239 residents in an area endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV infection in southern Taiwan. Overall, 703 (6.

Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C in Taiwan.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with hepatic steatosis. However, the role of hepatic steatosis in the pathogenesis of HCV infection remains controversial. In our study, 425 consecutive HCV-viremic patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C (male, 264; mean age, 49.

Qualitative application of COBAS AMPLICOR HCV test version 2.0 assays in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and comparison of clinical performance with version 1.0.

The objective of this research was to investigate the clinical performance of COBAS AMPLICOR hepatitis C virus (HCV) test version 2.0 Assays (CA V2.0).

Hepatitis C viremia increases the association with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a hepatitis B and C endemic area: an epidemiological link with virological implication.

Objectives: There is growing evidence with regard to the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the mutual link and related virological implication have not been fully clarified. The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on the epidemiological link remains unclear.

Adefovir dipivoxil treatment of lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B.

Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV)-resistant mutations have been identified in treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study aimed to analyze the response, the incidence of ADV resistance and the virologic characteristics of ADV therapy. A total of 29 CHB patients with confirmed lamivudine (LAM)-resistant HBV were treated with ADV for more than 52 weeks.

Comparison of liver histopathology between chronic hepatitis C patients and chronic hepatitis B and C-coinfected patients.

Background: The aim of the present study was to compare the histological characteristics of livers between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with and without hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection.

Methods: A total of 336 CHC patients (male/female: 204/132, mean age: 46.1 +/- 11.

Outcome of chronic hepatitis C patients who required early termination of pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin combination therapy.

Background: Pegylated interferon/ribavirin (peg-IFN/RBV) combination therapy is effective for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) but frequently causes adverse events, leading to early termination. Little is known about the outcome of CHC patients who required early termination.

Methods: Of 617 treatment-naive CHC patients prescribed a 24-week protocol of peg-IFN/RBV, 29 (4.

Early mortality in Taiwanese lamivudine-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B-related decompensation: evaluation of the model for end-stage liver disease and index scoring systems as prognostic predictors.

Background: Both Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) and Index scores have been used to predict mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease and cirrhosis in Western countries.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine mortality rates, identify prognostic indicators, and determine the usefulness of these 2 scoring systems in predicting short-term (6-month) survival in Taiwanese patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related decompensation who were treated with lamivudine.

Methods: This study was conducted at the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital and the Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

A 24-week course of high-dose interferon-alpha plus ribavirin for Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C patients with persistently normal or near-normal alanine aminotransferase levels.

Background/aims: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, advantage, and safety of a 24-week regimen with high-dose interferon-alpha (INF-alpha; 6 million units thrice weekly) plus ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) combination therapy for 46 Taiwanese chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with persistently normal or near-normal alanine aminotransferase (PNALT) levels.

Methods: Ninety-two age- and sex-matched CHC patients with elevated ALT levels (> 2 times the upper limit of normal range) with a ratio of 1:2, treated with the same regimen, served as a control.

Results: The sustained virologic response (SVR) rate was comparable between PNALT (67.

A simple noninvasive index for predicting long-term outcome of chronic hepatitis C after interferon-based therapy.

Changes in hepatic fibrosis after interferon-based therapy may be important in determining the long-term outcome of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The use of liver biopsy for posttreatment assessment is not a viable option as a routine follow-up procedure. This study evaluated the predictive value of a simple noninvasive index, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index assessed 6 months after end of treatment (APRI-M6).

A randomised study of peginterferon and ribavirin for 16 versus 24 weeks in patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C.

Background: The recommended treatment for patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 (HCV2) is pegylated interferon (peginterferon) and ribavirin for 24 weeks.

Aim: To assess whether a shorter 16-week treatment is as effective as a standard 24-week treatment.

Methods: Patients with HCV2 infection were randomised in a 1:2 ratio to either 16 weeks (n = 50) or 24 weeks (n = 100) of treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a (180 mug/week) and weight-based ribavirin 1000-1200 mg/day, with a 24-week follow-up period.