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- Samimi-Rad, K., et al.
(författare)
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Patient-to-Patient Transmission of Hepatitis C at Iranian Thalassemia Centers Shown by Genetic Characterization of Viral Strains
- 2013
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Ingår i: Hepatitis Monthly. - : Briefland. - 1735-143X .- 1735-3408. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Hepatitis C is prevalent among thalassemia patients in Iran. It is mainly transfusion mediated, in particular among patients treated before 1996 when blood screening was introduced. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate why patients still seroconvert to anti-HCV in Iranian thalassemia centers. Patients and Methods: During 2006-2007 sera were sampled from 217 anti-HCV positive thalassemia patients at nine thalassemia centers in Tehran and Amol city, where 34 (16%) patients had been infected after 1996. The HCV subtype could be determined by sequencing and .NCR-core region in 130 strains׳5 phylogenetic analysis of partial NS5B and/or Results: 1a (53%) was predominant followed by 3a (30%), 1b (15%), and one strain each of 2k, 3k and 4a. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 19 clades with up to ve strains diverging with less than six nucleotides from each other within subtypes 1a and 3a. Strains in seven cla des were from nine patients infected between 1999 and 2005 and similar to strains from eight patients infected before 1996, indicating ongoin g transmission at the centers. Further epidemiological investigation revealed that 28 patients infected with strains within the same clade had frequently been transfused at the same shift sitting on the same bed. An additional eight patients with related strains had frequently bee n transfused simultaneously in the same room. Conclusions: The results suggest nosocomial transmission at these thalassemia centers both before and after the introduction of blood screening. Further training of sta and strict adherence to preventive measures are thus essential to reduce the incidence of new HCV infections.
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| 2. |
- Alavian, S.M., et al.
(författare)
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Virus-triggered autophagy in viral hepatitis - possible novel strategies for drug development
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Viral Hepatitis. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 1352-0504 .- 1365-2893. ; 18:12, s. 821-830
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- . Autophagy is a very tightly regulated process that is important in many cellular processes including development, differentiation, survival and homoeostasis. The importance of this process has already been proven in numerous common diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Emerging data indicate that autophagy plays an important role in some liver diseases including liver injury induced by ischaemia reperfusion and alpha-1 antitrypsin Z allele-dependent liver disease. Autophagy may also occur in viral infection, and it may play a crucial role in antimicrobial host defence against pathogens, while supporting cellular homoeostasis processes. Here, the latest findings on the role of autophagy in viral hepatitis B and C infection, which are both serious health threats, will be reviewed.
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| 3. |
- Ghavami, Saeid, et al.
(författare)
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Apoptosis in liver diseases - detection and therapeutic applications
- 2005
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Ingår i: Medical Science Monitor. - 1234-1010 .- 1643-3750. ; 11:11, s. RA337-RA345
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The liver is continuously exposed to a large antigenic load that includes pathogens, toxins, tumor cells and dietary antigens. Amongst the hepatitis viruses, only hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) cause chronic hepatitis, which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Of the different antiviral defense systems employed by the tissue, apoptosis significantly contributes to the prevention of viral replication, dissemination, and persistence. Loss of tolerance to the liver autoantigens may result in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). This review outlines the recent findings that highlight the role and mechanisms of apoptotic processes in the course of liver diseases. Among factors that contribute to liver pathology, we discuss the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, HBx, ds-PKR, TRAIL, FasL, and IL-1 alpha. Since TNF and FasL-induced hepatocyte apoptosis is implicated in a wide range of liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, ischemia/reperfusion liver injury, and fulminant hepatic failure, these items will be discussed in greater detail in this review. We also highlight some recent discoveries that pave the way for the development of new therapeutic strategies by protecting hepatocytes (for example by employing Bcl-2, Bcl-X-L or A1/Bfl-1, IAPs, or synthetic caspase inhibitors), or by the induction of apoptosis in stellate cells. The assessment of the severity of liver disease, as well as monitoring of patients with chronic liver disease, remains a major challenge in clinical hepatology practice. Therefore, a separate chapter is devoted to a novel cytochrome c - based method useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of fulminant hepatitis.
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