Sequencing of E2 and NS5A regions of HCV genotype 3a in Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease throughout the world. The NS5A and E2 proteins of HCV genotype 1 were reported to inhibit the double-stranded (ds) RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), which is involved in the cellular antiviral response induced by interferon (IFN). The response to IFN therapy is quite different between genotypes, with response rates among patients infected with types 2 and 3 that are two-three-fold higher than in patients infected with type 1.

Simultaneous quantitation of serum HBV DNA and HBeAg can distinguish between slow and fast viral responses to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: The quantitation of serum HBeAg is not commonly used to monitor viral response to therapy in chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: In this study, 21 patients receiving varying therapies were followed and their viral response monitored by concomitant viral load and HBeAg quantitation in order to study the meaning and the kinetics of both parameters.

Results: It was possible to distinguish between three different patterns of viral response.

A phylogenetic study of hepatitis B virus in chronically infected Brazilian patients of Western and Asian descent.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes one of the most important chronic viral infections worldwide. HBV is classified into eight genotypes whose epidemiology varies geographically. In Brazil, genotypes A, D, and F are more frequent, while in East Asia, genotypes B and C predominate.

Prognostic factors for progression of liver structural lesions in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Aim: To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and histological variables capable of predicting the progression of hepatic structural disturbances in chronic hepatitis C patients during the time interval between two liver biopsies.

Methods: Clinical charts of 112 chronic hepatitis C patients were retrospectively analyzed, whereas liver biopsies were revised. Immunohistochemical detection of interferon receptor was based on the Envision-Peroxidase System.

Differences in viral kinetics between genotypes 1 and 3 of hepatitis C virus and between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients during antiviral therapy.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with genotype 1 or 3 and the presence or absence of liver cirrhosis (LC) in the early viral kinetics response to treatment.

Methods: Naive patients (n = 46) treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin and followed up with frequent early HCV-RNA determinations were analysed. Patients were infected with genotype 1 (n = 28, 7 with LC) or 3 (n = 18, 5 with LC).

Assessment of portal hemodynamics by Doppler ultrasound and of liver morphology in the hepatosplenic and hepatointestinal forms of schistosomiasis mansoni.

The aim of this study was to compare portal and splenic blood flows and the liver morphology in hepatosplenic (HS) and hepatointestinal (HI) schistosomiasis. Doppler ultrasound measurements were performed in 48 adult patients with schistosomiasis, according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, and compared with those performed in 20 healthy controls. Portal flow was significantly higher (P < 0.

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and precore and core mutants in Brazilian patients.

A method for genotyping hepatitis B virus by partial HBsAg gene sequencing with primers common to all known genotypes was developed. Mutations related to anti-HBs resistance are also detected with this method. Samples from 103 Brazilian patients were analyzed.

Searching for chronic hepatitis B patients in a low prevalence area--role of racial origin.

Background: Clinical studies for testing new drugs against hepatitis B ought to be carried out in low prevalence areas despite difficulties on patient recruitment. In such areas, relatives of chronic hepatitis B patients are considered to be at risk of acquiring the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HBV markers (anti-HBc, HBsAg and anti-HBs) in familial members of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients according to their origin (Asian or Western) in a low prevalence area, the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

p53 immunostaining pattern in Brazilian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important type of cancer etiologically related to some viruses, chemical carcinogens and other host or environmental factors associated to chronic liver injury in humans. The tumor suppressor gene p53 is mutated in highly variable levels (0-52%) of HCC in different countries.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to compare the frequency of aberrant immunohistochemical expression of p53 in HCC occurring in cirrhotic or in non-cirrhotic patients as well as in liver cell dysplasia and in adenomatous hyperplasia.

High rate of sustained response to consensus interferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients resistant to alpha-interferon and ribavirin: a pilot study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate an alternative treatment (consensus interferon plus ribavirin) for chronic hepatitis C patients resistant to combined therapy.

Methods: Fourteen patients previously resistant to interferon alpha plus ribavirin were consecutively assigned to receive 15 microg of consensus interferon plus ribavirin (1000 mg) daily for 4 weeks, and 9-15 microg every other day plus daily ribavirin for the following 44 weeks. Alanine aminotransferase and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA (Amplicor Monitor; Roche) levels were monitored during therapy and for 24 weeks after its completion.