Previous studies have suggested hepatitis B splice-generated protein (HBSP), when expressed, is involved in the pathogenesis of HBV infection.

Accurate and personalized molecular virological diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is crucial for individualized selection of patients for antiviral therapy in Romania.

Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a marker of HBV replication in the liver of patients infected with HBV.

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Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C (HBV and HCV) infections are both major causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, HCC caused by each of these two viruses has unique characteristics that should be studied independently to that of another one. While HBV- and HCV-related HCCs share similar host and environmental risk factors such as male gender, age above 50 years old, family history of HCC, cirrhosis, obesity, and concomitant alcohol/tobacco use, they differ in their viral risk factors.

Sylvester Chuks Nwokediuko, Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku OzallaChronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a global public health problem because of its worldwide distribution and its potential to cause sequelae. HBV is most prevalent in China, South East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Amazon basin of South America where health care resources are most limited. Numerous challenges exist for effective management of chronic HBV infection, particularly in resource-limited regions. These challenges include lack of accurate prevalence data, absence of a surveillance program, and poor political will of governments in resource-poor countries to enforce effective measures to control the disease. There is a lack of understanding regarding HBV infec-tion by both the general public and health care providers. A better understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of this condition is necessary. The acute shortage of trained medical manpower necessary for accurate diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepati-tis B (CHB) in resource-poor countries is a formidable challenge. The condition is com-plicated by the continuing efflux of medical graduates from low-income economies to richer countries. The most critical problem in the management of CHB is the high cost of laboratory tests and drugs. Drugs are also not readily available. Other challenges in the manage-ment of CHB include stigmatization of patients, co-infection with other viruses, lack of management guidelines, and absence of an effective patient referral system. To address these challenges, governments of resource-poor nations must be committed to budg-etary allocation for the implementation of health programs. It is necessary to provide awareness campaigns, health education, proper screening of blood and blood products for transfusion, active screening, intensification of existing childhood immunization, technical and financial assistance from wealthier nations, and implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Global Hepatitis Policy (2010).

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Previous studies have demonstrated the dominance of genotype D subtype ayw in patients with hepatitis B virus infection in Turkey. The aim of the present study is to report, for the first time, genotype A2 subtype adw2 of hepatitis B virus in a patient who is an inactive hepatitis B carrier in Turkey.

The S gene region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) codes for surface antigen (HBs Ag) and is responsible for classification of HBV strains.

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Mutations in basal core promoter (BCP) and precore regions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are associated with course and treatment outcomes of chronic HBV infection. While BCP and precore mutation analysis have been carried out in adult patients between different genotypes, this analysis has rarely been performed for chronically infected children.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections constitute a major global health problem. About 60,000 and 350,000 deaths occur as the results of HBV and HCV infections, respectively. Chronic hepatitis B and C infections are leading causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which are considered as the third cancer-associated cause of deaths worldwide. Iran suffers from the same problem but to a lesser extent as it is considered as a low endemic area for HBV and HCV infections and also as a low incidence area of HCC. This study was conducted to assess and provide a clear picture about epidemiology of HBV and HCV infections in Iran and worldwide, with the consequence on HCC distribution all over the world including Iran, and to analyze current literature regarding the modes of transmission and risk factors of HBV and HCV infections.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains, resistant to at least two anti-HBV agents from different subclasses of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) without a cross-resistance profile, are defined as multidrug-resistant. However, there are limited in vivo data for resistance to multiple NUCs. In this study, we report the case of the emergence of a multidrug-resistant HBV strain in a Turkish patient receiving sequential therapy. Polymerase gene mutations of HBV were detected using direct sequencing, line probe assay and clonal analysis. Twelve months after the start of lamivudine (LAM) therapy, virological breakthrough occurred (4.2E+07 IU/ml) and the rtM204V variant was detected in the patient's sera: adefovir (ADV) was added to the therapy. ADV therapy was continued as monotherapy for 11 months, until the occurrence of clinical breakthrough i.e. alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 60 IU/L, and emergence of drug resistance to ADV (rtN236T). At that time, switch therapy was resumed with ADV + entecavir (ETV) in combination for 5 months. In the 18th month of the ETV monotherapy, direct sequencing showed reduced susceptibility to ETV (rtL180M+rtM204V). Currently, ETV + tenofovir (TDF) are being used as antiviral treatment and the HBV DNA load has decreased substantially (<1.0E+02 IU/ml). In conclusion, we have detected an HBV strain with multidrug-resistance, which had a very fast course of development. Patients with a multidrug-resistant profile should be more frequently followed up both by direct sequencing and line probe assay, for the detection of possible novel HBV variants and low level mutants present in the viral population, in case of the sudden emergence of drug resistance.

While prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) who are undergoing dialysis has decreased significantly during the past few decades, it still remains a distinct clinical problem. The immunosuppressive nature of renal disease often leads to chronicity of the HBV infection and an opportunity for nosocomial spread of the infection among dialysis patients. Egypt is among the countries with intermediate endemicity of HBsAg (range, 2%-7%). Large-scale geographic heterogeneity in HBV prevalence has been reported worldwide and HBV prevalence is especially heterogeneous in Egypt.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is highly endemic in many Asian countries.

Viral hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of acute and chronic liver diseases worldwide.

The global epidemic of hepatitis B and hepatitis C is a serious publichealth problem. Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C are among the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to two billion people in the world have been infected with HBV; about 350 million people live with chronic HBV infection, and about 600,000 people die from HBV- related liver disease or HCC each year. The endemicity of infection is considered high in Yemen. Data for prevalence of HBsAg and HCV antibodies in Ibb city in Yemen is rare and inadequate.

Identification of effective treatments in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a controversial topic. Although the currently approved drugs for HBV control the disease's progression and also limit associated outcomes, these drugs may not fully eradicate HBV infection. In addition to better managing patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, the induction of seroclearance by these drugs has been a commonly discussed topic in recent years.

Nucleus(t)ide analogs (NAs), containing Lamivudine (LMV), adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), endeavor (ETV), telbivudine (LdT), and tenofovir (TDF) are widely used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but long term anti-Hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapy with NAs may give rise to the emergence of drug-resistant viral mutants.