Humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines among healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia.

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) were among the first to be fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. However, the antibody responses to the vaccines and potential decline among Malaysian HCW are still unclear. The objective of this study is to follow-up anti-S antibody levels among HCW vaccinated with mRNA vaccine (BTN162b2) and inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac).

Genetic diversity of hepatitis B co-infection with hepatitis C, D and E viruses among Malaysian chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: Hepatitis B virus co-infection with other strains of viral hepatitis is associated with increased risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation.

Objectives: This is a prevalence study that assessed the genetic diversity of chronic hepatitis B patients and coinfection.

Methods: Chronic hepatitis B patients enrolled in this study were tested for antibodies of other hepatitis viruses using ELISA kits.

Quantitative Hepatitis B e Antigen: A Better Predictor of Hepatitis B Virus DNA than Quantitative Hepatitis B Surface Antigen.

Background: Hepatitis B surface antigen is usually secreted by infected hepatocytes in the form of subviral particles rather than infectious virions, while the hepatitis B e antigen originates from the core gene and is modified and secreted by hepatocytes into the circulation and functions as a marker of active viral replication. This study aimed to study the relationship between HBV DNA and quantitative hepatitis B surface and e antigen in Malaysian patients.

Methods: A total of 82 chronic hepatitis B patients were recruited for this study from the Hepatology Department of Selayang Hospital.

Expression of Human Cytokine Genes Associated with Chronic Hepatitis B Disease Progression.

Background: Hepatitis viruses are non-cytopathic viruses that lead to the infection and pathogenesis of liver diseases as a result of immunologically mediated events.

Objective: To investigate the expression of human inflammatory cytokines in chronic hepatitis B patients according to the severity of the infection.

Methods: We recruited a total of 120 patients, 40 of whom from cirrhotic, 40 non-cirrhotic, and 40 acute flare chronic hepatitis B and 40 healthy controls.

Molecular and serological detection of occult hepatitis B virus among healthy hepatitis B surface antigen-negative blood donors in Malaysia.

Background: Occult hepatitis B infections are becoming a major global threat, but the available data on its prevalence in various parts of the world are often divergent.

Objective: This study aimed to detect occult hepatitis B virus in hepatitis B surface antigen-negative serum using anti-HBc as a marker of previous infection.

Patient And Methods: A total of 1000 randomly selected hepatitis B surface antigen-negative sera from blood donors were tested for hepatitis B core antibody and hepatitis B surface antibody using an ELISA and nested polymerase chain reaction was done using primers specific to the surface gene (S-gene).

Naturally occurring hepatitis B virus surface antigen mutant variants in Malaysian blood donors and vaccinees.

Hepatitis B virus surface mutants are of enormous importance because they are capable of escaping detection by serology and can infect both vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, thus putting the whole population at risk. This study aimed to detect and characterise hepatitis B-escaped mutants among blood donors and vaccinees. One thousand serum samples were collected for this study from blood donors and vaccinees.

Isolated hepatitis B core antibody positive among vaccinated cohort in Malaysia.

Background And Objectives: Hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) are detected in almost every patient with previous exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, with this marker alone, one cannot understand the activity of the disease; therefore, this study aimed to identify the implication of isolated hepatitis B core antibody and evaluate the effect of hepatitis B vaccine booster in isolated anti-HBc among adults who received the HBV vaccine as infants.

Design And Settings: A prospective cohort study of vaccinated undergraduate students of University Putra Malaysia.

Antibody and immune memory persistence post infant hepatitis B vaccination.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the level of hepatitis B immunity among undergraduate students 23 years after commencement of the nationwide hepatitis B childhood immunization program in Malaysia.

Methods: A total of 402 serum samples obtained from volunteer undergraduate students were screened for the presence of hepatitis B surface antibodies using qualitative ELISA.

Results: Results showed that 62.

An Overview of Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen Mutant in the Asia Pacific.

Hepatitis B virus infection is a serious health problem worldwide, and more than 350 million people are chronic carriers, constituting a major global threat. Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific have the highest levels of endemicity in the world, with an estimated seroprevalence ranging between 2% and 31%. Mutations in the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have been reported in many parts of the world but are most common in Asian infants; such mutants have several clinical effects, such as the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Prevalence of macrolide resistance and in vitro activities of six antimicrobial agents against clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from a multi-center surveillance in Malaysia.

The in vitro activities of 6 antimicrobial agents against clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) were investigated and the erythromycin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were correlated with the two major macrolide resistance determinants, mef(A) and erm(B). MICs of commonly used antibiotics as well as the presence of macrolide resistance determinant genes in all isolates were tested. Seventy one pneumococcal isolates collected at Institute for Medical Research (IMR) were included in this study.

Hymenolepis nana in a renal transplant recipient: to treat or not to treat?

A case of hymenolepiasis in a renal transplant recipient. Issues discussed include the benefit of anti-parasitic agents as well as the preventive measures.