Economic burden of hepatitis B virus-related diseases: evidence from iran.

Background: Hepatitis B infection is still the main cause of chronic liver disease in Iran, which is associated with significant economic and social costs.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the financial burden caused by CHB infection and its complications in Iran.

Patients And Methods: Prevalence-based and bottom-up approaches were used to collect the data.

Sequencing and Phylogenetic Study of Partial NS3 Gene of Iranian GB Virus C/Hepatitis G Virus (HGV) Originated From Hemodialysis Patients in Tehran.

Background: Hepatitis viruses are one of the most important concerns in the patients on hemodialysis who are at high risk for blood-borne infections. GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) is positive-stranded RNA virus with global distribution, which codes structural and nonstructural proteins (such as NS3).

Objectives: Review on literature about Iranian HGV isolates showed that there was no report on sequencing and phylogenetic characteristics of NS3 gene and therefore, this study attempted to answers these challenges.

Intravenous hypnotic regimens in patients with liver disease; a review article.

Context: The liver as an important organ in the body has many essential functions in physiological processes. One of the major activities of liver is drug metabolism. Hepatic dysfunction affecting hepatic physiological activities, especially drug metabolism can cause many problems during anesthesia and administration of different drugs to patients.

Efficacy of Prolonged Treatment With Pegylated Interferon (Peg-IFN) and Ribavirin in Thalassemic Patients With Hepatitis C Who Relapsed After Previous Peg-IFN-Based Therapy.

Background: Most thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection do not respond to therapy with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) due to hepatic siderosis and RBV dose reduction caused by RBV-induced anemia.

Objectives: In the present study, we recruited HCV genotype 1-infected thalassemic patients who had relapsed after a 48-week treatment with Peg-IFN plus RBV in order to evaluate the efficacy of a 72-week regimen of Peg-IFN plus RBV.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective study, 23 thalassemic patients with HCV genotype 1 infection who had prior relapse after treatment with Peg-IFN and RBV for 48 weeks were consecutively enrolled in this study for evaluation of the efficacy of a 72-week treatment regimen.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Although transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been widely used as a palliative treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its actual efficacy and prognostic usefulness have not been clarified in past studies.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy, complications, and prognostic factors of the TACE in unresectable HCC patients.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-two patients with unresectable HCC were treated with TACE.

The therapeutic use of analgesics in patients with liver cirrhosis: a literature review and evidence-based recommendations.

Context: Pain management in cirrhotic patients is a major clinical challenge for medical professionals. Unfortunately there are no concrete guidelines available regarding the administration of analgesics in patients with liver cirrhosis. In this review we aimed to summarize the available literature and suggest appropriate evidence-based recommendations regarding to administration of these drugs.

Anesthesia for patients with liver disease.

Context: Liver plays an important role in metabolism and physiological homeostasis in the body. This organ is unique in its structure and physiology. So it is necessary for an anesthesiologist to be familiar with various hepatic pathophysiologic conditions and consequences of liver dysfunction.

Interleukin 18 gene promoter polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B infection: a review study.

Context: The variation in clinical outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is determined by virological, immunological and host genetic factors. Genes encoding cytokines are one of the candidates among host genetic factors. Polymorphisms in gene promoter can lead to different levels of cytokine expression and unique immune response.

Non-viral related liver enzymes elevation after kidney transplantation.

Background: Liver enzymes elevations (LEE) can be observed after kidney transplantation due to multifactorial causes.

Objectives: We performed a retrospective study on 1589 kidney transplants, 971 male and 618 female, who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus-antibody (HCV Ab) negative, and had no other liver diseases, to detect the prevalence of LEE and its risk factors in these patients between May 2008 and May 2010.

Patients And Methods: Liver enzymes and other biochemical parameters were measured in all recipients.

How can we make decision for patients with chronic hepatitis B according to hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level?

Background: HBeAg negative hepatitis B infection exerts both inactive carrier state and chronic active hepatitis, which are sometimes difficult to differentiate. Serial hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA quantification, alanine transaminase (ALT) measurement, and liver histology assessment can help to differentiate these forms of hepatitis B infection.

Objectives: We aimed to clarify the clinical and laboratory characteristics of HBeAg negative hepatitis B patients.

Inter-observer and Intra-observer Agreement in Pathological Evaluation of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Suspected Liver Biopsies.

Background: Histopathologic assessment of liver tissue is an essential step in management and follow-up of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) while inter- and intra-observer variations limit the accuracy of these assessments.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of histopathologic assessment of liver biopsies based on NAFLD activity score (NAS) scoring system.

Materials And Methods: The anonymous liver biopsy samples of 100 consecutive NAFLD suspected adults were randomly assigned to four pathologists.

GB Virus C/Hepatitis G Virus Envelope Glycoprotein E2: Computational Molecular Features and Immunoinformatics Study.

Introduction: GB virus C (GBV-C) or hepatitis G virus (HGV) is an enveloped, RNA positive-stranded flavivirus-like particle. E2 envelope protein of GBV-C plays an important role in virus entry into the cytosol, genotyping and as a marker for diagnosing GBV-C infections. Also, there is discussion on relations between E2 protein and gp41 protein of HIV.

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes among patients with hepatitis C virus infection in hormozgan, iran.

Background: More than 170 million people in the world are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Determination of HCV genotype before starting the treatment is required, because HCV genotype affects the course of treatment and drug dosage.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate HCV genotypes among patients with positive results for anti-HCV in Bandar Abbas from 2011 to 2012.

Impact of Pegylated Interferon-alfa-2a on Perforin Level in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B; Preliminary Study.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B is one of the most common causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular toxicity in many countries, including Iran. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and Natural killer (NK) cells are the two of main cell populations considered as cytotoxic cells. One of the distinct pathways CTL and NK cells exert cytotoxicity is perforin/granzyme.

The role of celiac disease in severity of liver disorders and effect of a gluten free diet on diseases improvement.

Context: Celiac disease (CD) is defined as a permanent intolerance to ingested gluten. The intolerance to gluten results in immune-mediated damage of small intestine mucosa manifested by villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia. These abnormalities resolve with initiationa gluten-free diet.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in the general population: A Middle Eastern perspective.

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection is probably the most important factor that has been associated with the development of gastric cancers in human populations. However, there are no reliable data on the prevalence of this infection in the Middle East.