Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 33 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Chan TT, Chan WK, Wong GL, Chan AW, Nik Mustapha NR, Chan SL, et al.
    Am J Gastroenterol, 2020 06;115(6):867-875.
    PMID: 32149781 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000588
    OBJECTIVES: Previous exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) may increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We aim to study the impact of previous HBV infection on the severity and outcomes of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

    METHODS: This was a multicenter study of 489 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 69 patients with NAFLD-related or cryptogenic HCC. Antihepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) was used to detect the previous HBV infection.

    RESULTS: In the biopsy cohort, positive anti-HBc was associated with lower steatosis grade but higher fibrosis stage. 18.8% and 7.5% of patients with positive and negative anti-HBc had cirrhosis, respectively (P < 0.001). The association between anti-HBc and cirrhosis remained significant after adjusting for age and metabolic factors (adjusted odds ratio 2.232; 95% confidence interval, 1.202-4.147). At a mean follow-up of 6.2 years, patients with positive anti-HBc had a higher incidence of HCC or cirrhotic complications (6.5% vs 2.2%; P = 0.039). Among patients with NAFLD-related or cryptogenic HCC, 73.9% had positive anti-HBc. None of the patients had positive serum HBV DNA. By contrast, antihepatitis B surface antibody did not correlate with histological severity.

    DISCUSSION: Positive anti-HBc is associated with cirrhosis and possibly HCC and cirrhotic complications in patients with NAFLD. Because a significant proportion of NAFLD-related HCC may develop in noncirrhotic patients, future studies should define the role of anti-HBc in selecting noncirrhotic patients with NAFLD for HCC surveillance.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/immunology*
  2. Hudu SA, Malik YA, Niazlin MT, Harmal NS, Sekawi Z
    Curr Issues Mol Biol, 2014;16:69-78.
    PMID: 24014801
    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. Diagnostic failures by commercial assays have reduced the diagnostic effectiveness of HBsAg detection. For example the substitution of an amino acid in the major hydrophilic region of the S gene reduces the binding of hepatitis B surface antibodies leading to immune escape. The safety of blood transfusion may be compromised by current screening tests due to escape from being neutralised by antibodies induced by HBsAg mutants, and undetectable levels of viral surface protein. Data on the epidemiology of HBsAg mutation in Asia Pacific are scant; however, this manuscript has reviewed the available information on the epidemiology of HBsAg mutation in Asia Pacific.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/chemistry*
  3. Aurpibul L, Kariminia A, Vibol U, Fong MS, Le ON, Hansudewechakul R, et al.
    Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2018 Aug;37(8):788-793.
    PMID: 29846357 DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000001901
    BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B (HBV)-HIV coinfection is associated with liver inflammation, which can progress to liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We determined HBV seroprevalence in children and adolescents participating in the TREAT Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database.

    METHODS: A multisite cross-sectional study was conducted in HIV-infected patients currently <25 years old receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) who had HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), or HBV surface antibody (anti-HBs) or HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) tested during 2012-2013. HBV coinfection was defined as having either a positive HBsAg test or being anti-HBc positive and anti-HBs negative, reflective of past HBV infection. HBV seroprotection was defined as having a positive anti-HBs test.

    RESULTS: A total of 3380 patients from 6 countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and India) were included. The current median (interquartile range) age was 11.2 (7.8-15.1) years. Of the 2755 patients (81.5%) with HBsAg testing, 130 (4.7%) were positive. Of 1558 (46%) with anti-HBc testing, 77 (4.9%) were positive. Thirteen of 1037 patients with all 3 tests were anti-HBc positive and HBsAg and anti-HBs negative. One child was positive for anti-HBc and negative for anti-HBs but did not have HBsAg tested. The prevalence of HBV coinfection was 144/2759 (5.2%) (95% confidence interval: 4.4-6.1). Of 1093 patients (32%) with anti-HBs testing, 257 (23.5%; confidence interval: 21.0-26.0) had positive tests representing HBV seroprotection.

    CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalence of HBV coinfection in this cohort of Asian HIV-infected children and adolescents on ART was 5.2%. The majority of children and adolescents tested in this cohort (76.5%) did not have protective HBV antibody. The finding supports HBV screening of HIV-infected children and adolescents to guide revaccination, the use of ART with anti-HBV activity and future monitoring.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood*
  4. Yong CY, Yeap SK, Goh ZH, Ho KL, Omar AR, Tan WS
    Appl Environ Microbiol, 2015 Feb;81(3):882-9.
    PMID: 25416760 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.03695-14
    Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a deadly pathogen that has killed countless people worldwide. Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived HBV vaccines based upon hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is highly effective. However, the emergence of vaccine escape mutants due to mutations on the HBsAg and polymerase genes has produced a continuous need for the development of new HBV vaccines. In this study, the "a" determinant within HBsAg was displayed on the recombinant capsid protein of Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV), which can be purified easily in a single step through immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). The purified protein self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs) when observed under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Immunization of BALB/c mice with this chimeric protein induced specific antibodies against the "a" determinant. In addition, it induced significantly more natural killer and cytotoxic T cells, as well as an increase in interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secretion, which are vital for virus clearance. Collectively, these findings demonstrated that the MrNV capsid protein is a potential carrier for the HBV "a" determinant, which can be further extended to display other foreign epitopes. This paper is the first to report the application of MrNV VLPs as a novel platform to display foreign epitopes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood
  5. Azlina Yahya, Osama Abdul Nasir
    Q Bulletin, 2019;1(28):36-44.
    MyJurnal
    Wastage due to unnecessary laboratory test requests is a major problem in government hospitals because they have cost implications. Although screening of infectious marker tests such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B antibody (AHBS) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)) before testing have been put in place, inappropriate tests were still being carried out in the Serology laboratory, which resulted in wasted human resources and reagents, increased workload and increased maintenance costs. Based on the verification studies using the Laboratory Information System (LIS), we observed only 70% of the tests followed the ordering guidelines or test specifications. Thus, we aim to increase the standard to more than 95% of the infectious marker test requests which were appropriate according to a few guidelines.
    A cross-sectional study was conducted for all infectious marker tests received at Serology Laboratory from January 2015 to June 2016 to verify the problem. A workplace audit and questionnaire survey on the staff were carried out to gain more information. Low level of knowledge, unavailability of standardised guidelines for quick and easy reference, lack of staff and inefficient work processes were among the main contributing factors. Empowering new staff to screen specimens, developing simple and informative screening guidelines, providing adequate trays and refrigerators for screening purposes and strengthening and developing a more effective process of care were the strategies taken during this study.
    The appropriate tests carried out from July to September 2015, October to December 2015, January to March 2016 and April to June 2016 were 99%, 98.80%, 99.50%, 98.90% respectively. During the same period, 711, 411, 710 and 768 tests were rejected. We monitored the performance and managed to achieve 100% appropriate testing for the period of July 2016 to June 2018 and an estimation of MYR 73,437.50 cost saving was achieve
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies
  6. Tan DS, Zaini Rahman M, Fang R, Collett D, Ooi BG
    PMID: 3538435
    Sera were obtained from 494 non-icteric patients admitted with illnesses other than overt hepatitis into the medical wards of the rural and urban hospitals in Malaysia. They were tested for HBsAg, HBeAg, and anti-HBs by enzyme immunoassay. The overall HBsAg carrier rate was 18.0% ranging from 9.6% in children, (10 years and under), to a maximum of 23.5% in the adolescents (11 to 20 years), the rates decreasing subsequently to 16.5% and 20.8% in the adult and middle-age groups, respectively. The Chinese (18.6%) and Malays (19.9%) had similar HBsAg carrier rates but the rate in the Indians (9.0%) was distinctly lower. Similar rates were observed in the males (16.5%) and the females (19.8%). The carrier rate was 17.1% in rural patients compared with 21.4% in the urban ones. The 'e' antigen was found in 14 of the 89 HBsAg carriers (15.7%). The overall prevalence was 14/494 (2.8%) rising sharply from childhood (2.9%) to adolescence (5.3%), subsequently declining with advancing age. The Chinese had the highest rate (6.2%) followed by the Indians (1.5%) and the Malays (1.1%). Males had a rate of 3.3% compared to the females with 2.3%. Anti-HBs was found in 33.8% of the patients, increasing steadily from childhood (18.3%) to middle-age (46.4%). The Chinese had a higher prevalence rate (41.6%) than the Indians (32.8%) and the Malays (29.3%). The rates were similar for the males (35.6%) and the females (31.5%). Rural patients (46.1%) had a higher rate than urban patients (35.7%). Both areas showed rising prevalence with increasing age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/analysis*
  7. Sinniah M, Dimitrakakis M, Tan DS
    PMID: 3787309
    Sera from one hundred and fifty nine Malaysian individuals were screened for the prevalence of delta markers. These included 15 HBsAg positive homosexuals, 16 acute hepatitis B cases, 9 chronic hepatitis B patients, 13 healthy HBsAg carriers and 106 intravenous (i.v.) drug abusers, of whom 27 were positive for HBsAg only and the rest were anti-HBc IgG positive but HBsAg negative. The prevalence of delta markers in the homosexuals was found to be 6.7%, in the HBsAg positive drug abusers 17.8%, in acute hepatitis B cases 12.5%. No evidence of delta infection was detected in healthy HBsAg carriers, chronic hepatitis B cases and HBsAg negative i.v. drug abusers. With reference to i.v. drug abusers, the prevalence of delta markers was higher in Malays (23%) than in Chinese (7%) although the latter had a higher HBsAg carrier rate. Although the HBsAg carrier rate in the homosexuals was high, their delta prevalence rate was low as compared to drug abusers. In Malaysia, as in other non-endemic regions, hepatitis delta virus transmission appeared to occur mainly via the parenteral and sexual routes. This is the first time in Malaysia that a reservoir of delta infection has been demonstrated in certain groups of the population at high risk for hepatitis B.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/analysis
  8. Rajakumar MK, Ton SH, Lim KF, Oorloff KH
    Med J Malaysia, 1984 Mar;39(1):65-8.
    PMID: 6513842
    179 heterosexuals, selected for VDRL testing on the basis of a history of involvement in promiscuous sexual activity, mainly prostitution, had their serum also tested for hepatitis B infection markers, HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBe. 51 samples (29%) were found to be positive for at least one of the three markers, at levels higher than the already high levels in voluntary random blood donors in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/analysis*
  9. Gan CY, Yap SF, Ngeow YF, Wong HC
    Sex Transm Dis, 1991 4 1;18(2):84-8.
    PMID: 1862464 DOI: 10.1097/00007435-199118020-00006
    This study documents the prevalence of Hepatitis B serological markers among STD patients who have had multiple sexual partners in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and compares the rates with those of a sample of the population with single or no sexual partners. A total of 336 Chinese STD patients (multiple partners group) and 234 Chinese control subjects (non-multiple partner group) were screened. Those with a history of blood transfusion or parenteral drug abuse had been excluded from the study, and all study subjects were heterosexuals. The overall carrier rate was 9.2% for the multiple partner group (MP group) and 6.8% for the non-multiple partner group (NMP group). Infection rates were 64.3% for the MP-group and 38.9% for the NMP group. After adjustments for age and sex, there was no significant difference in carrier rates between the two groups, but infection rates were significantly different with the MP group, being 3.2 times more likely to acquire infection than the NMP group. The study concludes that in heterosexuals, those with multiple sexual partners have increased chances of acquiring HBV infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood
  10. Sinniah M, Ooi BG
    Singapore Med J, 1993 Apr;34(2):132-4.
    PMID: 8266152
    We studied the presence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antibodies in a defined Malaysian population and examined the association, if any, between HCV and the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), using sensitive recombinant DNA second generation Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) test kits. This sero-prevalence study comprised 1,434 sera from eleven distinct groups comprising intravenous drug users (IVDU), haemophiliacs, male homosexuals, female prostitutes, healthy blood donors, staff of dialysis unit and laboratory personnel, chronic renal failure patients undergoing dialysis (CRFD), patients with liver cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis, chronic persistent hepatitis and primary liver cancer. Except in laboratory personnel and dialysis staff, HCV antibodies were detected in each group of patients ranging from 3% in blood donors to 85% in IVDU. The main modes of HCV transmission identified were parenteral drug use, transfusion and/or dialysis related. The HBV was found to be the major viral etiological agent in 75% of chronic liver disease (CLD); while in 10% of cases both HCV and HBV were detected. HCV was implicated as the sole viral agent in only a small proportion (1.5%) of patients with chronic liver disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/analysis
  11. Hudu SA, Malik YA, Niazlin MT, Harmal NS, Alshrari AS, Sekawi Z
    Ann Saudi Med, 2014 1 15;33(6):591-4.
    PMID: 24413864 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2013.591
    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.

    PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 408 undergraduate students who received infant hepatitis B vaccination volunteered for this study; 5 mL of venous blood was taken from the volunteers. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and core antibodies were tested using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit according to the manufacturer's instructions (DRG international Inc., USA). Molecular detection of hepatitis B viral DNA was performed using nested polymerase chain reaction.

    RESULTS: The prevalence of isolated anti-HBc among the vaccinated cohort was found to be 5.0%, out of which 80% had a hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs) titer higher than 10 IU/L, while 20% had less than 10 IU/L anti-HBs titer. All the anti-HBc positivesubjects had detectable hepatitis B viral DNA in their serum. Anamnestic response was found to be 100% among isolated anti-HBc with negative antibody.

    CONCLUSION: Isolated anti-HBc developed protective levels of anti-HBs after a single dose of recombinant hepatitis B vaccination. HBV DNA was detected in all isolated anti-HBc indicating occult chronic HBV infection with undetectable HBsAg.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood*
  12. Lee CE, Sri Ponnampalavanar S, Syed Omar SF, Mahadeva S, Ong LY, Kamarulzaman A
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 2011 Oct;40(10):448-53.
    PMID: 22206053 DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.V40N10p448
    INTRODUCTION: Dried blood spot (DBS) collection is an appealing alternative to whole blood or plasma sampling, as it has technical and economic advantages over the latter.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a Malaysian tertiary referral hospital from November 2009 to March 2010. One hundred and fifty paired specimens of DBS and plasma were analysed by the standard assays for HIV Ag/Ab, HBsAg, anti-HBS and anti-HCV, separately (total 600 paired specimens). DBS sample titres were then compared to the results of plasma testing, which was used as the gold standard.

    RESULTS: For the HIV Ag/Ab assay with a cut-off point of 0.35 Relative Light Units (RLUs), the sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. For the HBsAg assay, the sensitivity was 96.5% and the specificity was 97.8%, with a cut-off point of 1.72 RLUs. Sensitivity for the anti-HBs test was 74.2% and the specificity was 86.9%, using a cut-off point of 0.635 RLUs. For the anti-HCV assay, the sensitivity was 97.3% and the specificity was 100%, with a cut-off point of 0.10 RLUs.

    CONCLUSION: DBS is an ideal choice to be used as a screening tool for the detection of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infections. However, different cut-off values need to be used for the validation of test positivity in DBS samples because the small amount of blood in the DBS specimens leads to lower assay titres.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood*; Hepatitis B Antibodies/immunology
  13. Yap WB, Tey BT, Alitheen NB, Tan WS
    J Biosci Bioeng, 2012 Jan;113(1):26-9.
    PMID: 22024533 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2011.09.007
    The C-terminal domain of Nipah virus (NiV) nucleocapsid protein (NP₄₀₁₋₅₃₂) was inserted at the N-terminus and the immunodominant loop of hepatitis B core antigen (HBc). The stability of NP₄₀₁₋₅₃₂ increased tremendously when displayed on the HBc particles. These particles reacted specifically with the swine anti-NiV and the human anti-HBc antisera.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/immunology
  14. Tan GH, Yusoff K, Seow HF, Tan WS
    J Med Virol, 2005 Dec;77(4):475-80.
    PMID: 16254965
    The immunodominant region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) located in the viral small surface antigen (S-HBsAg) elicits virus-neutralizing and protective antibodies. In order to develop an easy and inexpensive method to produce this region without the need for extensive purification, amino acid residues 111-156 of S-HBsAg were fused to the C-terminal end of the 10B capsid protein of T7 phage. Western blotting and ELISA confirmed the expression of the recombinant protein on the surface of the phage particles. The recombinant phage exhibited the antigenic and immunogenic characteristics of HBsAg, illustrating its potential as an immunological reagent and vaccine.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood
  15. Lee WS, Teh CM, Chan LL
    J Paediatr Child Health, 2005 May-Jun;41(5-6):265-8.
    PMID: 15953326 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2005.00608.x
    OBJECTIVES: To estimate the risks of seroconversion of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) in children with multitransfused thalassaemia at a thalassaemic clinic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    METHODS: Seventy-two children (39 males, median age 11.3 years, 2.5th-97.5th centile: 1.4-19.2 years) with thalassaemia major were studied. The risks of seroconversion of HBV, HCV and HIV were estimated by comparing the seroprevalences of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV and anti-HIV between a defined starting point and an end point. The end point was the point when latest serological results were available while the starting point was when regular transfusion was commenced, or approximately 5 years before the end point when the duration of transfusion was longer.
    RESULTS: The median duration of the study was 49 months (range 8-69 months, total 2953 patient-months). There were 2605 transfusion episodes and 4154 units of blood transfused (0.88 transfusion episode/patient per month, 1.41 units of blood transfused/patient per month). There were three new seroconversions for anti-HCV but none for HBsAg and anti-HIV. The risk of seroconversion for HCV was one in 1384 units of blood transfused (95% CI: 4000-472). The seroprevalence rates at the starting and end points were: HBsAg (1%, 1%), anti-HCV (10%, 13%) and anti-HIV (0%, 0%), respectively.
    CONCLUSIONS: The estimated risk of acquiring HCV infection in children receiving multiple blood transfusions in this study is surprisingly higher than the generally accepted estimated risk. Other routes of transmission may be important. A prospective, multicentre study to estimate such risks more precisely is needed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood*
  16. Ng KP, Saw TL
    Med J Malaysia, 1994 Jun;49(2):117-21.
    PMID: 8090089
    A total of 250 hepatitis B surface antigen positive sera were screened for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. It was found that seven (3%) sera showed concurrently circulating surface antigen and surface antibody to hepatitis B virus. The level of antibody to surface antigen was not affected by HBeAg and most of the cases were found in chronic hepatitis B carriers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood*
  17. Yap SF, Wong NW, Goh KL
    Malays J Pathol, 1994 Jun;16(1):57-62.
    PMID: 16329577
    The relationship between serum Hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) and the Hepatitis B e-antigen/ anti-Hepatitis Be (HBeAg/anti-HBe) serological status in Malaysians was studied. 212 cases of asymptomatic HBV carriers were recruited for this study. 92 cases were positive for the HBeAg at the point of recruitment. 85 (92.4%) of these patients tested positive for HBV-DNA, of whom 55 (64.7%) had levels over 100pg/ml of serum. Three of the remaining 7 HBeAg positive cases who were negative for HBV-DNA subsequently seroconverted. The other 4 cases remained negative for HBV-DNA for periods of 6-12 months. Out of 113 cases who were anti-HBe positive, 12 (10.6%) gave a positive HBV-DNA result. 2 of these 12 patients were recent seroconverters; the remaining cases had transiently increased viral replicative activity which later subsided. 7 out of the 212 carriers were in the e-window period; all 7 tested negative for HBV-DNA. Our data confirm a high frequency of HBV-DNA in HBeAg positive carriers and a negative correlation between HBV-DNA and anti-HBe. An atypical profile of anti-HBe associated with HBV-DNA was observed in 10.6% of the carriers. An inverse relationship between serum HBV-DNA levels and age was also observed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood*
  18. Mah GK, Yeo A
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 1990 May;19(3):339-43.
    PMID: 2144101
    Blood samples from 1,600 persons who sought immunisation against hepatitis B in private clinics in Singapore in 1988-1989 were screened for two viral markers. Of that total, 4.81% were positive for HBsAg and 17.31% had anti-HBs levels greater than 10 mIU/ml, indicating that about 22.12% of the general population would not benefit from immunisation. Preimmunisation screening will identify persons not requiring the hepatitis B vaccine and thus, avoid wastage. When immunisation has already been performed without screening, recall for post-immunisation screening should be considered in order to detect the infectious hepatitis B carriers. Data in this study indicates that at this point in time, it is important to immunise adolescents and adults, in addition to neonates and children.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/analysis
  19. Quak SH, Singh R, Oon CJ, Wong HB
    Ann Trop Paediatr, 1982 Jun;2(2):53-6.
    PMID: 6185078
    A study of race-related distribution of hepatitis B markers was conducted in 458 children admitted consecutively to Singapore General Hospital. The positive rates for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Chinese, Malays and Indians were 11.2, 8.0 and 12.2% respectively and the corresponding figures for anti-HBs were 30.2, 12.0 and 14.6%. In Chinese children HBsAg prevalence was shown to be sex-related, being higher in males than females. The percentages of Chinese children positive for anti-HBs and anti-HBc were also higher than those of the Indians. This study confirmed that Singapore children were exposed to hepatitis B infection from early life. All three races were equally susceptible to this infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/analysis*
  20. Hudu SA, Harmal NS, Saeed MI, Alshrari AS, Malik YA, Niazlin MT, et al.
    Afr Health Sci, 2016 Sep;16(3):677-683.
    PMID: 27917199
    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).

    RESULTS: Of the 1000 samples 55 (5.5%) were found to be reactive, of which 87.3% (48/55) were positive for hepatitis B surface antibody, indicating immunity as a result of previous infection however, that does not exclude active infection with escaped mutant HBV. Nested PCR results showed the presence of hepatitis B viral DNA in all the 55 samples that were positive for core protein, which is in agreement with the hepatitis B surface antibody result.

    CONCLUSION: This study reveals the 5.5% prevalence of occult hepatitis B among Malaysian blood donors as well as the reliability of using hepatitis B core antibody in screening for occult hepatitis B infection in low endemic, low socioeconomic settings.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links