Extrahepatic and intrahepatic replication and expression of hepatitis C virus

In order to determine the replication sites of hepatitis C virus, the in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical technique using digoxin-labeled 531 bp plus-strand and minus-strand HCVRNA probes were employed to detect HCVRNA in the liver tissues, bone marrow mononuclear cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the patients with chronic hepatitis C, and in HCV transfected COS cells. The results showed that both plus-strand and minus-strand HCVRNA were detected in 80% of liver tissues (4/5). Plus-strand HCVRNA could be detected in 90% of PBMCs and bone marrow mononuclear cells (18/20), minus-strand HCVRNA in 25% of PBMCs. In HCV transfected COS cells, plus-strand HCVRNA distributed evenly in 20% cellular nuclei and cytoplasms. No minus-strand HCVRNA was detected in the bone marrow mononuclear cells and HCV transfected COS cells. The positive signal appeared in more cells when the liver tissues, PBMCs and marrow mononuclear cells were hybridized by plus-strand probes than when hybridized by minus-strand probes. Our results suggested that the hepatocytic cytoplasms and PBMC cytoplasms were the replication sites of HCV, but the marrow mononuclear cells were not the replication sites of HCV although they were infected by HCV. HCV infection might be accounted for the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis and relapse of hepatitis C after liver transplantation.

Priming for T-cell-mediated rejection of established tumors by cutaneous DNA immunization

DNA immunization has been shown to elicit both antibody and CTL responses against antigens expressed by infectious organisms. Because CTL responses have been implicated in rejection of cancer, we investigated whether DNA immunization by particle bombardment using a gene gun could induce CTL responses that were capable of rejecting tumors in mice. DNA immunization by particle bombardment using genes encoding beta-galactosidase and ovalbumin primed mice to generate CTLs in two genetic backgrounds (DBA/2 and C57BL/6 strains, respectively). DNA immunization was more potent in inducing CTLs than immunization with an optimized regimen of ovalbumin peptide plus immune adjuvant. Immunity induced by DNA immunization protected mice against s.c. challenge with tumors expressing the beta-galactosidase antigen. Tumors were rejected even when DNA immunization was started 3 or 7 days after tumor challenge as tumors were becoming established. Tumor rejection required CD8(+) T cells, confirming a role for CTLs in vivo. These studies show that DNA immunization by particle bombardment can efficiently induce CTL responses that are capable of rejecting even established tumors.

Inhibition of airway constriction by opioids is different down the isolated bovine airway

BACKGROUND

Opioid agonists attenuate in isolated airways contractile responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS), and this attenuation is mediated by opioid receptors. Differences exist in the density of muscarinic and beta-adrenergic receptors between large and small airways. The authors hypothesized that the density of opioid receptors may also be different down the airway.

METHODS

The effects of three selective opioid agonists (mu, kappa, delta) on EFS-induced contractions were compared between isolated bovine sublobar (4- or 5-mm inner diameter) and segmental (2- or 3-mm inner diameter) bronchial rings and between trachealis strips and bronchial rings.

RESULTS

D-Ala2-N-MePhe4-Gly-ol5 enkephalin (DAMGO; 10(-5) M), a mu-opioid agonist, attenuated EFS-induced contractions of isolated sublobar and segmental bronchial rings at low stimulating frequencies of 0.5 Hz (P < 0.001), 2 Hz (P < 0.001), and 8 Hz (P < 0.001), but not at 32 Hz (P = 0.071). The inhibitory effect of DAMGO was antagonized by naloxone (10(-5) M) (P = 0.025). The selective kappa-opioid agonist U-50488 H (10(-5) m) attenuated EFS-induced contractions at 32 Hz (P = 0.008) and 8 Hz (P = 0.045), but not at 2-Hz (P = 0.893) or 0.5-Hz (P = 0.145) contractions. The inhibitory effects of 10(-5) M U-50488 H were not antagonized by the highly selective kappa-antagonist 2,2'-[1,1'-biphenyl] 4,4'-diyl-bis [2-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl]-morpholinium (nor-BNI; 10(-5) M; P = 0.216) or naloxone (10[-5]) M; P = 0.065). The selective delta-agonist D-penicillamine2-D-penicillamine5-enkephalin (DPDPE) (10(-5) M) had no inhibitory effects (P = 0.256). The inhibitory effects of the selective mu-opioid agonist DAMGO were smaller (P < 0.001) and those of U-50488 H larger (P < 0.001) in trachealis strips compared with bronchial rings.

CONCLUSIONS

The attenuation of EFS-induced contractions by DAMGO in isolated bovine bronchi was mediated by prejunctional opioid receptors. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of U-50488 H was probably not mediated by opioid receptors in the bronchi.

Identification of a cotton fiber-specific acyl carrier protein cDNA by differential display

Transcripts from immature fibers and stripped ovules (fibers removed) of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) were compared by differential display to identify cDNA fragments that represent mRNAs that are expressed primarily in cotton fibers. Eight independent fiber-specific cDNA fragments were isolated. One of these cDNAs had strong sequence similarity with acyl carrier protein (ACP). A full-length cDNA for the cotton fiber-specific ACP was isolated using a PCR cDNA library screening technique. This 713 bp cDNA has an open reading frame that encodes a 136 amino acid polypeptide. Overall nucleotide and amino acid sequence identities with other plant ACP gene sequences averaged 66% and 60% respectively. A 19 amino acid sequence surrounding the prosthetic group attachment site is nearly identical to other plant ACP genes. Northern blot analyses showed that transcripts homologous to this fiber-specific ACP cDNA were predominantly expressed during the elongation stage of fiber development. Initial genomic Southern blot analysis indicated that a single copy of the fiber-specific ACP gene may be present in both the cotton A and D genomes, since diploid Gossypium species with A or D genomes gave identical bands. We speculate that this putative fiber-specific ACP may play an important role in rapidly elongating cotton fibers by contributing to the synthesis of membrane lipids. It is also apparent that during the evolution of cotton a member of the ACP gene family has been recruited for specific expression in cotton fibers.

Allergen challenge of passively sensitized human bronchi alters M2 and beta2 receptor function

We investigated whether antigen challenge may alter M2 and beta2 receptor function in isolated passively sensitized human bronchi. Bronchial rings (2-4 mm internal diameter) were obtained from 12 patients. Passive sensitization was induced by serum containing high IgE levels to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. Rings from six patients were used to study M2 receptor function by incubating with cumulatively increasing concentrations (10(-8) M to 10(-4) M) of pilocarpine and applying electric field stimulation (EFS) at 24 Hz. The rings from the other six patients were used to study beta2 receptor function by precontracting with carbachol 10(-6) M and adding cumulatively salbutamol (10(-9) M to 10(-4) M). Additional rings from these patients were used to determine whether dysfunction occurred distal to cAMP production by precontracting with carbachol 10(-6) M and adding cumulatively theophylline (10(-9) M to 10(-4) M). The attenuation of EFS-induced force by pilocarpine and the relaxation of carbachol-precontracted rings by salbutamol were less in challenged than in control and sensitized rings. No difference between challenged, sensitized, and control rings was observed with theophylline. We conclude that allergen challenge in passively sensitized isolated human bronchial rings may result in M2 and beta2 receptor dysfunction without involving mechanisms distal to cAMP formation. It appears that products from inflammatory cells recruited from blood are not necessary for this receptor dysfunction.

Improved reactivity of hepatitis C virus core protein epitopes in a conformational antigen-presenting system

Recent studies have identified several epitopes in the N-terminal portion of the nucleocapsid protein which are predominantly recognized by sera of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The characterization of the sequences recognized by theses antibodies and the evaluation of their reactivities have been performed mainly with synthetic peptides. However, synthetic peptides are notoriously unreliable as antigens when the immune response is directed against conformational epitopes. In order to improve the detection of antibody responses in HCV-infected patients, we have evaluated the reactivities of three immunodominant regions of the HCV core protein (residues 1 to 20, 21 to 40, and 32 to 46) displayed in a conformation-specific manner on the surface of the Flock House virus (FHV) capsid protein. The results obtained with these proteins in the analysis of 94 serum samples positive by anti-HCV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay where then compared with those obtained with the corresponding synthetic peptides. The sequence most reactive both with the peptide and with the FHV protein was the region from residues 1 to 20, confirming the low conformational requirements for the display of these residues. On the other hand, the already reported conformational nature of residues 32 to 46 is in keeping with its observed high reactivity when displayed by the FHV recombinant protein and with the low reactivity displayed by its corresponding synthetic peptide. Finally, the high reactivity observed for the chimeric protein displaying the region from residues 21 to 40, as opposed to the results obtained with the synthetic peptide, also suggests that this sequence contains one or more conformational epitopes whose structures cannot be mimicked correctly with synthetic peptides.

[The anti-inflammatory effects of superoxide dismutase]

This paper reports the anti-inflammatory effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD) from pig blood on inflammatory animal models. The experimental results have shown that SOD has significant anti-inflammatory effects. It inhibited carrageenin-induced foot-edema and croton oil induced granulation tissue edema of rats. It also inhibited arthritis induced by egg serum and Freund's adjuvant in rats. The effects were significantly dose-dependent.

Potency probability following conformal megavoltage radiotherapy using conventional doses for localized prostate cancer

PURPOSE

Impotence is a familiar sequela of definitive external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for localized prostate cancer; however, nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP) has offered potency rates as high as 70% for selected for patients in several large series. To the authors' knowledge, age and stage-matched comparisons between the effects of EBRT and NSRP upon the normal age trend of impotence have not been performed. Herein, we report the change in potency over time in an EBRT-treated population, determine the significantly predisposing health factors affecting potency in this population, and compare age and stage-matched potency rates with those of normal males and prostatectomy patients.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Our results are obtained from a retrospective study of 114 patients ranging in age from 52 to 85 (mean, 68) who were diagnosed with clinical stages A-C C (T1-T4N0M0) prostate cancer and then treated conformally with megavoltage x-rays to 6500-7000 cGy (180-200 cGy per fraction) using the four-field box technique. Information concerning pre-RT potency, medical and surgical history, and medications was documented for each patient as was time of post-RT change in potency during regular follow-up. The median follow-up time was 18.5 months.

RESULTS

The actuarial probability of potency for all patients gradually decreased throughout post-RT follow-up. At months 1, 12, 24, and 36, potency rates were 98, 92, 75, and 66%, respectively. For those patients who became impotent, the median time to impotence was 14 months. Factors identified from logistic regression analysis as significant predictors of post-EBRT impotence include pre-EBRT partial potency (p < 0.001), vascular disease (p < 0.001), and diabetes (p = 0.003). Next, an actuarial plot of potency probability to patient age for the EBRT-treated population was compared to that obtained from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study of normal males. The two curves were not significantly different (logrank test, p = 0.741) between ages 50 and 65. Finally, potency probability after follow-up of 1 year or more in EBRT-treated patients was stratified by age and substratified by clinical stage and then compared to similarly stratified potencies for patients treated with NSRP. The prostatectomy data were derived from the pooled data of six large (total n, 952), independent series conducted at academic centers. For patients older than 70 years, 79.1% of EBRT patients and 32.9% of NSRP patients remained potent after treatment. For patients with stage B2 disease, 75.0% of EBRT patients and 49.3% of NSRP patients remained potent after treatment. Overall EBRT patient potency was 76.1% vs. 66.2% for NSRP patients.

CONCLUSIONS

1) By 36 months after completion of EBRT for localized prostate cancer, fully one-third of all patients becomes impotent; however, for patients younger than 70 years, the probability of impotence does not depart significantly from that for normal males. 2) In the EBRT-treated population, pre-EBRT partial potency, vascular disease, and diabetes are the most significant predispositions to the development of impotence. Patients with these predispositions, though, do not become impotent significantly earlier than other patients. 3) When comparing age and stage-stratified potency rates for EBRT and NSRP patients, potency is roughly equal for both modalities for most age and stage groups; however, for patients older than 70 years or with stage B2 disease, EBRT offers notably higher posttreatment potency rates than NSRP. Thus, for the treatment of localized prostate cancer, EBRT may not affect the normal age trend of impotence in younger patients and may induce impotence less frequently than NSRP in older patients or in patients with later stage disease.

[Herbalogical studies of the medicinal plants on Rubus]

This paper deals with the investigation of the medicinal plants of Rubus recorded in the herbalogical works of the past dynasties. The substitutes and false drug of Fu Penzi are also investigated. The result show that Fu Penzi recorded in Materia Medica shall be R. coreanus, and Pong Le be R. lambertianus in modern times.

[Microcolony observation for rapid detection and identification of cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis]

219 sputa were seeded on Kuang's agar plates. A total of 112 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were detected in 219 specimens. Of these 112 isolates, 104 (92.8%) were detected in Kuang's agar media and 108 (96.4%) were detected by microcolony observation. The detection time of microcolony observation and culture method needed 11 and 18.6 days respectively. The detection time of microcolony method is much shorter (P < 0.001). The results of conventional tests of different species of Mycobacterium and microcolony differentiation were identical in 99% of isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

[Confusable species of traditional Chinese drugs in Gansu Province and their quality: (1). A survey of drugs customarily used in Gansu Province]

This paper systematically investigates the confusable species of the traditional Chinese drugs in Gansu Province, and reports the sources, places of production and existing main problems of 58 species presently in production and circulation.

Factors in the cycle of violence: gender rigidity and emotional constriction

A sample of 595 men were administered self-report assessments of childhood sexual and physical abuse, perpetration history, gender rigidity and emotional constriction. Including noncontact forms of sexual abuse, 11% of the men reported sexual abuse alone, 17% reported physical abuse alone, and 17% reported both sexual and physical abuse. Of the 257 men in the sample who reported some form of childhood abuse, 38% reported some form of perpetration themselves, either sexual or physical; of the 126 perpetrators, 70% reported having been abused in childhood. Thus, most perpetrators were abused, but most abused men did not perpetrate. Both sexually and physically abused men who perpetrated manifested significantly more gender rigidity and emotional constriction than abused nonperpetrators. Men who reported abuse but not perpetration demonstrated significantly less gender rigidity, less homophobia and less emotional constriction than nonabused men.

Postjunctional effect of pinacidil on contractility of isolated bovine trachealis

Potassium channel openers hyperpolarize the smooth muscle cell membrane and relax airway smooth muscle. In this study, pre- and postjunctional effects of pinacidil ((+/-) N-cyano-N'-(4-pyridil)-N"-(1,2,2-trimethylpropyl)-guanidine monohydrated), an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K(+)-channel opener, were determined in isolated bovine trachealis. The effects of pinacidil on the frequency-response to electrical field stimulation (EFS), 0.1-32 Hz, and on the concentration response to acetylcholine (ACh), 10(9)-10(-4) M, were compared in muscle strips from six animals. In addition, the effect of pinacidil on the inhibitory nonadrenergic noncholinergic (iNANC) system was evaluated in histamine-contracted muscle strips from another eight animals. Pinacidil (10(-6) or 10(-5) M) shifted both the EFS frequency-response and the ACh concentration-response curves significantly (p < 0.01) to the right. Glibenclamide (10(-7)-10(-5) M) antagonized these responses in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects of pinacidil on contractions of the same magnitude induced by EFS or exogenous ACh were not significantly different (p = 0.11), suggesting that pinacidil had only a postjunctional effect. Pinacidil had no effect on iNANC-mediated muscle relaxation. We conclude that pinacidil attenuates the contraction of isolated bovine tracheal smooth muscle by postjunctional mechanisms.

Minimum effective release rate of antifoulants (2): Measurement of the effect of TBT and zosteric acid on hard fouling

A membrane perfusion device for determining minimum effective release rates (MERR) of antifouling agents is described. The technique is applied to known biocidal agents and to a new prospective natural antifouling agent. This method allows controlled and reproducible release rates to be achieved independent of water chemistry and flow near the immersed surface. Unlike constant concentration methods, the device acts similarly to a painted surface, allowing establishment of diffusion gradients, thereby allowing fouling organisms to exhibit natural chemotactic responses to the released toxin. The method was applied at four remote sites to natural populations of fouling organisms. The MERRs of known (tributyltin chloride, dibutyltin chloride, and cupric ion) and experimental (zosteric acid) AF agents were determined. The effective release rates of cupric ion and organotin were consistent with immersed panel data and field observation of ship hulls, while the effective rate of zosteric acid, determined at two test sites, was much higher. Such data provide coatings formulators with valuable information relating to the suitability of an agent for AF coating use.

Opioid agonists modulate release of neurotransmitters in bovine trachealis muscle

BACKGROUND

Stimulation of opioid receptors in the airways can modulate cholinergic neurotransmission and thereby reduce bronchoconstriction. This protecting effect of opioids against bronchoconstriction may be of clinical interest. Inhalation of opioids as a method of analgesia is likely to result in an opioid concentration at airway receptors sufficient to protect against bronchoconstriction; the concentration may be insufficient when opioids are administered by conventional techniques. In addition, new selective opioids may be developed that could more selectively protect the airways against bronchoconstriction.

METHODS

The effect of three selective opioid agonists on the contractile response to electric field stimulation (EFS) was studied in isolated muscle strips from four regions of the bovine trachea (upper, or laryngeal; upper middle; lower middle; lower, or carinal).

RESULTS

The selective kappa agonist trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-1-pyrrolidinyl) cyclohexyl benzene acetamide (U-50488 H) and the selective mu-opioid agonist D-Ala2-N-MePhe4-Gly-ol5-enkephalin (DAMGO) reduced significantly (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) the contractile response to EFS. The attenuation of the contractile response by U-50488 H was concentration-dependent (P < 0.0001) and tended to be larger at low stimulating frequencies (P = 0.055). The attenuation of the contractile response by DAMGO was frequency-dependent (P < 0.01). The selective delta-opioid agonist D-penicillamine2-D-penicillamine5-enkephalin had no significant effect on the contractile response to EFS (P = 0.71). There were no significant differences among the four regions of the trachea in their responses to the selective opioid agonists U-50488 H (P = 0.50) and DAMGO (P = 0.44). Neither U-50488 H nor DAMGO altered the contractile response to acetylcholine P > 0.11, P > 0.21, respectively), suggesting that the opioid agonists have a prejunctional effect. The attenuation of the contractile response to EFS by U-50488 H was partially but significantly antagonized by 10(-5) M naloxone (P < 0.01) and by 10(-5) and 10(-6) M of the selective kappa-opioid antagonist 2,2'-[1,1'-biphenyl] 4,4'-diyl- bis [2-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-morpholinium] (P < 0.05). Naloxone (10(-5) M) abolished the inhibitory effect of DAMGO, suggesting that opioid receptors are involved in the attenuation of the contractile response to EFS afforded by DAMGO and U-50488 H.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that prejunctional kappa- and mu-opioid receptors attenuate the contractile response of isolated bovine trachealis muscle to EFS by inhibiting cholinergic neurotransmission. This effect is uniform throughout the trachealis muscle. delta-Opioid receptors are apparently not present in the bovine trachealis muscle. Caution must be used in extrapolating these results to the intact human. In this study little or no inhibitory effect of the opioids was observed at concentrations expected at airway receptor sites when administered by conventional techniques. However, the effect may be large enough to protect against bronchoconstriction when nebulized opioids are administered by inhalation.

[The study on the simplified agar media for mycobacteria]

Three kinds of simplified agar media were reported in this paper, which are easy to prepare and are simple in constituents. The velocity and the quantity of growth of seven strains tested on simplified agar media 309A and 309C were similar to or prevail over those on Lowenstein-Jensen medium and No. 92 potato-soup agar medium. Simplified agar media 309C and 309A could be applied to isolate mycobacteria from sputum and to test the drug susceptibility of M. tuberculosis.

Extraordinary high rate of HTLV type II seropositivity in intravenous drug abusers in south Vietnam

Serum specimens (n = 1899) were assayed for infections with HTLV-I, HTLV-II, and HIV-1 in seven classified groups of normal healthy controls, children, pregnant women, prostitutes, intravenous drug abusers, patients under going hemodialysis, and hemophiliacs in South and North Vietnam. Surprisingly, 125 of 954 samples from South Vietnam exhibited seropositivity for HTLV-II and 119 of these belonged to the group of IVDAs (n = 200). The remaining six positives were a healthy control, a prostitute, two children, and two patients under going hemodialysis. Two IVDAs who were seropositive for HTLV-I and 10 of 15 seropositives for HIV-1 were also positive for HTLV-II in this population. In contrast, no seropositives to any of the viruses were detected in the North Vietnamese samples (0 of 945). The HTLV-II-seropositive IVDAs exhibited increased seropositivity with age compared with HIV-1 seropositivity in the population, and there was no statistical relation between seropositivity for HTLV-II and HIV-1. The HTLV-IIs in South Vietnam IVDAs appeared, by subtype-specific peptide ELISA, to be a mixture of both subtypes a and b, with subtype a predominant. It seems possible that HTLV-II may have been introduced into this population from IVDAs from the United States during the Vietnam conflict, but in a period prior to, or early in, the introduction of HIV-1 to IVDAs.

Dose-surface histograms as treatment planning tool for prostate conformal therapy

Dose-surface histograms are studied and compared with dose-volume histograms, as an evaluation tool for prostate treatment planning. For thin walled hollow organs, such as the rectum and bladder, the surface area irradiated is a more appropriate measure of the biological effect than the full volume. It is also more accurate and efficient to define the surface for a hollow structure and compute the surface area histograms. Application of the dose-surface histograms provide new insights into prostate treatment planning. A simple idealized geometry model demonstrates that the percentage surface area intersected by the geometric beam edge differs from the percentage volume intersected. For a group of prostate patients, it is shown that the dose-surface histograms yield substantially different results from the dose-volume histograms in ranking four-, six-, and, eight-field treatment plans and in calculating the fraction of the rectum irradiated to high dose. The difference in terms of surface area between these plans in the high-dose region is usually less than that in terms of the volume, and a reverse of plan ranking order can consequently occur. The percentage of organ surface irradiated to high dose is typically greater than the percentage volume by 5% to 10%. The use of the dose-surface histograms in analysis of organ motion and/or patient setup uncertainty, and analysis of rectal complications, is also discussed.

Hepatitis C virus variants from Vietnam are classifiable into the seventh, eighth, and ninth major genetic groups

Thirty-four (41%) of 83 hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolates from commercial blood donors in Vietnam were not classifiable into genotype I/1a, II/1b, III/2a, IV/2b, or V/3a; for 15 of them, the sequence was determined for 1.6 kb in the 5'-terminal region and 1.1 kb in the 3'-terminal region. Comparison of the 15 Vietnamese isolates among themselves and with reported full or partial HCV genomic sequences indicated that they were classifiable into four major groups (groups 6-9) divided into six genotypes (6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, and 9a). Vietnamese HCV isolates of genotypes 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, and 9a were significantly different from those classified into groups 4, 5, and 6 based on divergence within partial sequences; those of genotype 6a were homologous to a Hong Kong isolate (HK2) of genotype 6a. Phylogenetic trees based on the envelope 1 (E1) gene (576 bp) of 55 isolates and a part of the nonstructural 5 (NS5) region (1093 bp) of 43 isolates revealed at least nine major groups, three of which (groups 7, 8, and 9) were identified only in Vietnamese blood donors. With a prospect that many more HCV isolates with significant sequence divergence will be reported from all over the world, the domain of the HCV genome to be compared and criteria for grouping/typing and genotyping/subtyping will have to be determined, so that they may be correlated with virological, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics.

Detection of HTLV-II-seropositive blood donors in South Vietnam but not in North Vietnam

Approximately 1% (4/500) of blood donors exhibited seropositivity for HTLV-II in South Vietnam, but none (0/500) did in North Vietnam. Further, all individuals seropositive for HTLV-II were intravenous drug abusers who were seronegative for HIV-1 and HTLV-I. These findings suggest that HTLV-II infection may be specifically prevalent in drug abusers in South Vietnam.

Hepatitis C and B virus infections in populations at low or high risk in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Vietnam

Inhabitants and patients of two cities in Vietnam were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs). Anti-HCV was detected in 43 (9%) of 491 individuals without liver disease in Ho Chi Minh, more frequently (P < 0.001) than in 18 (4%) of 511 in Hanoi. There was no apparent age-specific distribution of anti-HCV. Among inhabitants of both cities, HBsAg and anti-HBs were frequent, detected in 10-14% and 35-37%, respectively; the prevalence of anti-HBs increased in parallel with age. Among individuals at high risk, the prevalence of anti-HCV was particularly high in drug users (58/67 or 87%) and patients on maintenance haemodialysis (15/28 or 54%) or with haemophilia (7/24 or 29%) in Ho Chi Minh, and in drug users in Hanoi (61/200 or 31%). Prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk groups was not different from those in the general population. Screening of anti-HCV in blood donors in Vietnam is of urgent necessity because blood supply is dependent on commercial blood donors, many of whom are drug users at high risk.

Markers of hepatitis C and B virus infections among blood donors in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam

Blood donors in two cities in Vietnam were tested for markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus infections. Antibody to HCV was detected by passive hemagglutination with antigens of the second generation in 101 (20.6%) of 491 donors in Ho Chi Minh City; it was detected less frequently (P < 0.001) in donors in hanoi (4 [0.8%] of 499). HCV RNA was tested for in donors with antibody by PCR with nested primers from the 5'-noncoding region and detected in 79 donors in Ho Chi Minh City and 4 donors in Hanoi. HCV RNA was genotyped by PCR with type-specific primers from the core gene. Of 83 HCV carriers from Vietnam, 24 (29%) were infected with HCV of genotype I/1a 19 (23%) were infected with II/1b, 4 (5%) were infected with III/2a, and 2 (2%) were infected with mixed genotypes (I/1a and II/1b); HCV genotypes in the remaining 34 (41%) donors, including all 4 donors in Hanoi, were not classifiable into I/1a, II/2a, IV/2b, or V/3a. Of the 10 isolates with unclassifiable genotypes, 2 showed substantial sequence divergence within the 5'-noncoding region from reported isolates with known genotypes (I/1a to 6a). An analysis of part of the core gene sequence indicated that six of the remaining isolates most likely represented new HCV genotypes. Hepatitis B surface antigen and the corresponding antibody, respectively, were detected in 15 (3.1%) and 234 (47.7%) donors in Ho Chi Minh City as well as 15 (3.0%) and 248 (49.7%) donors in Hanoi. These results indicate an extensive spread of HCV among Ho Chi Minh City donors and HCV of novel genotypes in vietnam.