HBsAg protein composition and clinical outcomes in chronic hepatitis D and variations across HBeAg-negative chronic HBsAg carriers.

Background & Aims: HBsAg proteins are useful to identify HBV inactive carriers (ICs), but data on chronic hepatitis D (CHD) are scarce. This study aimed to describe HBsAg composition in CHD, its changes during the evolution, and the potential association with clinical outcomes. In addition, we assess the composition of HBsAg across different HBV genotypes and validate previous results on HBsAg proteins in an independent HBV cohort.

Standardized Hepatitis B Virus RNA Quantification in Untreated and Treated Chronic Patients: a Promising Marker of Infection Follow-Up.

The measurement and interpretation of HBV DNA and RNA levels in HBV infected patients treated with antiviral therapy supports the objective of HBV disease management. Here, we quantified circulating HBV RNA through a standardized and sensitive assay in follow-up samples from both naive and treated patients as a marker of infection evolution. HBV DNA (HBV DNA for use in Cobas 6800/8800 Automated Roche Molecular Systems), RNA (Roche HBV RNA Investigational Assay for use in the Cobas 6800/8800; Roche), HBeAg and HBsAg (Elycsys HBsAg chemiluminescence immunoassay by Cobas 8000; Roche), and core-related antigen (Lumipulse G chemiluminescence assay; Fujirebio) levels were measured in cohorts of untreated or nucleos(t)ide treated, HBV-infected subjects in an outpatient hospital setting.

Inspecting the Ribozyme Region of Hepatitis Delta Virus Genotype 1: Conservation and Variability.

The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) genome has an autocatalytic region called the ribozyme, which is essential for viral replication. The aim of this study was to use next-generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze the ribozyme quasispecies (QS) in order to study its evolution and identify highly conserved regions potentially suitable for a gene-silencing strategy. HDV RNA was extracted from 2 longitudinal samples of chronic HDV patients and the ribozyme (nucleotide, nt 688-771) was analyzed using NGS.

One-quarter of chronic hepatitis D patients reach HDV-RNA decline or undetectability during the natural course of the disease.

Background: Spontaneous HDV-RNA fluctuations, assessed by nonstandardised in-house assays, have been reported during the course of chronic hepatitis delta (CHD).

Aims: To evaluate changes in serum HDV-RNA concentrations in untreated CHD patients and correlate these changes with other HBV markers.

Methods: A total of 323 consecutive serum samples from 56 CHD patients (detectable HDV-RNA) followed for >3 years were retested for HDV-RNA levels by a sensitive technique using the first WHO international HDV-RNA standard.

Conservation and variability of hepatitis B core at different chronic hepatitis stages.

Background: Since it is currently not possible to eradicate hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with existing treatments, research continues to uncover new therapeutic strategies. HBV core protein, encoded by the HBV core gene (), intervenes in both structural and functional processes, and is a key protein in the HBV life cycle. For this reason, both the protein and the gene could be valuable targets for new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.

Quantitative characterization of hepatitis delta virus genome edition by next-generation sequencing.

Aim: To determine the capacity of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for quantifying edited and unedited HDV populations, and to confirm if edition is a general phenomenon taking place along the entire HDV region analyzed, as we previously reported (Homs M et al. PLoS One 2016, 11, e0158557).

Methods: Four serum samples from 4 patients with chronic HDV/HBV infection were included in the study.

Coping and psychological adjustment in adolescents with vertically acquired HIV.

Children with vertically acquired HIV face the challenges of adolescence in addition to the demands of coping with their illness. The relationship between coping and psychological adjustment has been widely studied in adults and children with chronic diseases but it is poorly understood in adolescents with HIV. This study aimed to identify whether a UK sample of adolescents with vertically acquired HIV had poor psychological adjustment and to clarify the relationship between coping and psychological adjustment in this sample.

The current practice of neuropsychological rehabilitation in the United Kingdom.

Objective: To describe the clinical practice of British neuropsychologists working in brain injury rehabilitation using a questionnaire based on Wilson's (2002) model. Assessment, treatment, and evaluation practices were surveyed together with theories and models influencing clinical practice.

Participants: 54 clinical neuropsychologists took part.