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Copyright of Viral Hepatitis Journal / Viral Hepatit Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a viral infection that can result in life-threatening conditions, such as hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis. Tenofovir, which is used for the treatment of CHB, is a nucleotide analog that inhibits HBV-DNApolymerase and has two formulations: disoproxil and alafenamide. In contrast to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) penetrates the whole hepatocyte without being eliminated due to its longer plasma half-life and greater plasma stability. As a result, side effects such as proximal renal tubulopathy and loss of bone density are less common in the treatment of TAF and have similar efficacy to TDF. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of TAF using real-life data. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was carried out in secondary or tertiary healthcare centers in southern Turkey. A total of 480 patients aged 18 years and older were administered TAF for an appropriate indication by the infectious diseases and gastroenterology clinics of the healthcare centers participating in this study. The data collected at t = 0, t = 3, and t = 6 months of treatment were analyzed. The chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman, Wilcoxon, Cochran's Q, and McNemar's tests were used. Results: The mean age of the patients was 47.40 ± 14.5, and 327 of them (68.1%) were male. A total of 78.l% of the 480 patients who underwent the TAF treatment had previous antiviral therapy experience (TDF, n = 340; 70.8 %), and 2l.9% were treatment-naive. The most common reasons for the initiation of TAF treatment were the use of drugs affecting bone mineral density (BMD) (42.9%) and osteoporosis (22.3%). Patients who had taken TDF experienced a significant improvement in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), hip and spine T-scores, and phosphorus levels from t = 0 months to t = 6 months after switching to TAF (P < 0.05). For this group, no statistically significant difference was observed concerning LDL and cholesterol levels from t = 0 months to t = 6 months. Side effects were reported by 5.7% of patients in the third month and 7.l% in the sixth month, with the most common side effect being hair loss (l%). Conclusions: TAF was found to be an effective and safe alternative to TDF with lower incidences of its long-term effects, such as nephrotoxicity and decreased bone density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Currently, several molecular assays are available to detect and quantify HBV DNA in clinical samples. We aimed to characterize and compare the clinical performance of newly designed NeuMoDx PCR to the existing artus PCR. Methodology: The plasma HBV DNA levels of 96 clinical and 5 external quality control samples were measured by NeuMoDx and artus assays simultaneously in Kocaeli University, Turkey. The linearity, agreement and the correlation between two assays were determined by Deming regression analysis, Bland-Altman plotting, the chi-square and the relative absolute error statistical analyzes. For all statistical analyzes, the XLSTAT statistical program was used. Results: The mean (standard deviation; SD) age was 45.07 ± 12.29. HBsAg S/Co median (range) was 4,273.4 ± 1,138.1 and ALT U/L median (range) was 27 ± 16. The mean (SD) of HBV DNA was 1.46+E6 ± 1.0+E4 for NeuMoDx and 1.54+E5 ± 4.7 + E4 for artus assays. The Deming regression indicates a linear correlation (95% confidence). The chi-square test indicates strong correlation (p < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis confirms that the measurement difference is acceptable. The relative absolute error analysis for artus showed relatively less and more consistent error rate. With 5 external quality check samples, the statistical significance was low (p = 0.566). Conclusions: The NeuMoDx HBV assay showed an excellent analytical performance by providing a rapid, high throughput technology in a random-access testing system in clinical samples and may be a new solution for viral load quantification in the management of HBV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Mannose‑binding lectin (MBL) is a member of innate immune system that activates complement system through lectin pathway. MBL deficiency is associated with susceptibility to infectious diseases. In this study, the relation between MBL gene polymorphism and chronic hepatitis B infection in children is evaluated. Patients and Methods: The study included 67 children with chronic hepatitis B and 99 healthy controls. The hepatitis B patients were divided into immuntolerant, chronic inactive, and treatment groups according to their laboratory findings. MBL gene codon 52, 54, and 57 polymorphisms were studied with polymerase chain reaction in all patients and controls. The associations of MBL gene polymorphism with clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic findings were evaluated. Results: Homozygous codon 54 polymorphism of MBL was found significantly higher in chronic hepatitis B patients than controls. Rate of the polymorphism was similar in all groups and, responsive and nonresponsive patients in the treatment group. Conclusions: The hepatitis B patients who are homozygous for codon 54 of MBL are prone to develop chronic infection. Longitudinal studies with larger groups are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neopterin (NP) is a pteridine derivative that is secreted as a response to gamma interferon stimulation. The purpose in this study was to investigate the relationship between the NP levels and the disease and determining the efficacy of an interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC). The study was conducted on 49 cases with CHB, 30 cases with CHC and 72 healthy individuals. Serum samples were taken from the patients receiving treatment at the beginning and at the end of the treatment and only once from the healthy individuals in the control group. The NP levels were found significantly higher in the patients with CHB and CHC than those in the control group. When the pre and post-treatment serum NP levels of the patients who received an interferon therapy were compared, the post-treatment NP levels of the patients who responded to the treatment were significantly higher. When a comparison was made before and after treatment, a decrease was seen in the NP levels in most of the infections due to decreased activation of the immune system. However, when the disease was treated with an IFN therapy, which is a treatment stimulating the immune system, the post-treatment NP level remained high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Viral Hepatitis Journal / Viral Hepatit Dergisi is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Few studies have addressed the indirect costs of chronic hepatitis B and C, and none has assessed the real costs of these conditions, including indirect costs caused by loss of work, in Turkey. Aims: This study therefore analysed the costs of treatment, follow-up, and complications of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections to the community. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study analysed patients with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C treated at Pamukkale University Hospital Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic, Denizli, Turkey between June 2009 and June 2010. Costs of antiviral treatment and follow-up were calculated from patients' medical records, and indirect costs were analysed from questionnaires completed by patients. Results: Data were analysed for 284 patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Indirect, hospital, treatment and total expenses were significantly higher for patients with chronic hepatitis B than for inactive hepatitis B virus carriers and patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hospital and total expenses of patients with complications were significantly higher than for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hospital and total expenses were significantly higher for patients with than for individuals without cirrhosis. Indirect, hospital, treatment and total costs of patients were significantly higher for patients receiving combination therapy than monotherapy. Conclusion: Reducing the costs to society of chronic hepatitis requires the development of protection and screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]