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J Mol Biol 2022 May 17:167633. Epub 2022 May 17.

Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. Electronic address:

Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is initiated by the binding of the viral polymerase (P) to epsilon (ε), an ≈85-nucleotide (nt) cis-acting regulatory stem-loop RNA located at the 5'-end of the pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA). This interaction triggers P and pgRNA packaging and protein-primed reverse transcription and is therefore an attractive therapeutic target. Our recent nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of ε provides a useful starting point toward a detailed understanding of HBV replication, and hints at the functional importance of ε dynamics. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2022 May 16;95:107199. Epub 2022 May 16.

Visceral Surgery Department, Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center, Lome, Togo.

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major malignant tumour of the liver. Its rupture is a serious and fatal complication. Its diagnosis and management are a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

In this prospective study involving 337 chronic hepatitis B patients who achieved spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance (SC), serum Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) before SC was associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (hazard ratio 2.588), and ELF <10.8 was associated with >97% reduction in risk of HCC development in patients with ageSC≥50 (n = 190). Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Department of Medicine.

Background: This study investigated the effect of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUC) treatment on HBV DNA integration and hepatocyte clonal expansion, both of which are implicated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients receiving NUCs (11 lamivudine, 7 telbivudine, 10 entecavir) were included. All had liver biopsies at baseline and year 1, and seven had a third biopsy at year 10. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Hepatitis B Foundation, Doylestown, PA, USA.

Background: Early, sustained hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA suppression reduces long-term risks of hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment criteria are complex. Simplifying criteria will improve timely linkage-to-therapy. Read More

Obstet Gynecol 2022 Apr;139(4):696

Am J Epidemiol 2022 May 19. Epub 2022 May 19.

Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.

Vaccine hesitancy - the delay or refusal of vaccines despite their availability - has been linked to lower vaccination rates and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Using cross-sectional surveys of 78,725 parents and other family members in the US, Nguyen et al. (Am J Epidemiol. Read More

Curr Pharm Des 2022 Apr 21. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Institute Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot (010020), China.

Background: The treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) comprises a global medical problem, and the first-line clinical drugs have obvious shortcomings. The use of the plant extract diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) in food and medicine has gradually widened because of its safety and effectiveness. In clinical practice, DG is mainly used for liver-disease treatment, but DG intervention for CHB lacks systematic-based evidence. Read More

Hepatol Commun 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

The appropriate prophylaxis for hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) during gestation for immunocompromised pregnant women has yet to be determined. The prophylactic efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients and the HBVr risk in hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)-positive patients during gestation were investigated. Eligible pregnant women were diagnosed with rheumatic diseases and were administered prednisone (≤10 mg daily) with permitted immunosuppressants at screening. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022 3;12:894836. Epub 2022 May 3.

Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been reported to be associated with gastric cancer (GC). Nonetheless, no study has revealed the role of HBV infection in the survival of patients with GC, and the mutation profiles of HBV-infected patients with GC have never been documented. Here, we performed an updated meta-analysis and found a significantly increased risk of GC in HBV-infected individuals (sOR, 1. Read More

Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022 10;2022:6390809. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Liver Transplant, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.

Objectives: Factors prognostic of survival in liver transplant (LT) recipients with hepatitis B virus related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) remain unclear. This study evaluated risk factors for survival in LT recipients with HBV-ACLF and determined the scoring system optimal for assessing patient prognosis.

Methods: This retrospective study included 323 HBV-ACLF related patients undergoing LT, including 112, 146, and 65 patients with HBV-ACLF grades 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Read More

Front Immunol 2022 3;13:872542. Epub 2022 May 3.

Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.

Background: Common vaccinations may have impacts on dementia risk, but current evidence is inconsistent. We therefore investigated the association between vaccinations and dementia risk by systematic review and meta-analysis approach.

Methods: We conducted an extensive search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science to identify studies that compared the risk of dementia in vaccinated versus unvaccinated populations. Read More

J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022 9;9:389-403. Epub 2022 May 9.

Department of Traditional and Western Medical Hepatology, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify and validate novel biomarkers for distinguishing among hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver fibrosis/liver cirrhosis (LF/LC) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Patients And Methods: Transcriptomic sequencing was conducted on the liver tissues of 5 patients with HCC, 5 patients with LF/LC, 5 patients with CHB, and 4 healthy controls. The expression levels of selected mRNAs and proteins were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and were verified in validation set (n=200) and testing set (n=400) via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Read More

Hepat Med 2022 13;14:67-77. Epub 2022 May 13.

Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: The efficient use of antiretroviral drugs has significantly reduced AIDS-related morbidities and mortalities; however, mortality due to non-AIDS-related end-stage liver diseases is escalating in those living with HIV.

Objective: The study was designed to determine the prevalence of HIV and its co-infection with HBV and HCV among chronic liver disease (CLD) patients in Ethiopia.

Methods: Three hundred and forty-five CLD patients were included in this study in two groups: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n=128) and non-HCC (n=217) patients. Read More

Sci Rep 2022 May 19;12(1):8421. Epub 2022 May 19.

Department of Gastroenterology, Saiseikai Niigata Hospital, Niigata, Japan.

We investigated the impact of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) on predicting outcomes in 522 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with lenvatinib. We determined the optimal CAR cutoff value with time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Additionally, we clarified the relationship between CAR and liver function or HCC progression. Read More

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2022 May;43(5):728-733

Department of Epidemiology/Center of Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.

To investigate the type, length, and CG loci of HBV DNA CpG islands in HBsAg positive maternal C genotype and its relationship with intrauterine HBV transmission, so as to provide a new perspective for the study of intrauterine transmission of HBV. From June 2011 to July 2013, HBsAg-positive mothers and their newborns who delivered in the obstetrics and gynecology department of the Third People's Hospital of Taiyuan were collected. Epidemiological data were collected through face-to-face questionnaires and electronic medical records. Read More

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 2022 May;43(5):696-701

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.

To study the non/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccination in HIV-infected patients, identify the influencing factors and provide evidence for the development of hepatitis B prevention and control strategies and measures for special population. On the basis of the randomized controlled trial of 20 µg hepatitis B vaccine immunization at 0-1-6 month, 0-1-2-6 month and 60 µg hepatitis B vaccine immunization at 0-1-2-6 month, the HIV-infected patients who completed one-month follow-up after the full course vaccination were selected as study subjects. Quantification of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) in serum samples was performed by using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) and demographic characteristics, disease history, HIV infection and treatment status of the study subjects were collected. Read More

J Hepatol 2022 Jun;76(6):1249-1262

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Electronic address:

Functional cure of hepatitis B is defined as sustained undetectable circulating HBsAg and HBV DNA after a finite course of treatment. Barriers to HBV cure include the reservoirs for HBV replication and antigen production (covalently closed circular DNA [cccDNA] and integrated HBV DNA), the high viral burden (HBV DNA and HBsAg) and the impaired host innate and adaptive immune responses against HBV. Current HBV therapeutics, 1 year of pegylated-interferon-α (PEG-IFNα) and long-term nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs), rarely achieve HBV cure. Read More

Curr Opin Immunol 2022 May 16;77:102207. Epub 2022 May 16.

Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. Electronic address:

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes either acute or chronic liver diseases. Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) often progresses to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As HBV is extremely noncytopathic, immunological events play a key role in the infection outcome. Read More

PLoS One 2022 19;17(5):e0267953. Epub 2022 May 19.

Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Young psychoactive substance users exhibit high-risk behaviours such as unprotected sexual intercourse, and sharing needles and syringes, which increases their risk of Hepatitis B infection. However, there is limited evidence of screening, and vaccination status of this subgroup. The aim of this study was to establish the predictors of screening and completion of the hepatitis B vaccination schedule. Read More

J Community Health 2022 May 19. Epub 2022 May 19.

Department of Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, 325 9th Ave Box 359928, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA.

The adherence to the CDC guideline on screening non-U.S. born persons for hepatitis B virus infection was assessed. Read More

mBio 2022 May 19:e0067722. Epub 2022 May 19.

Center for Pathogen Biology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related diseases are among the major diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. These diseases are difficult to eradicate and thus pose a serious global health challenge. There is an urgent need to understand the cross talk mechanism between HBV and the host. Read More

Clin Chem 2022 May 19. Epub 2022 May 19.

Centre for Novostics, Hong Kong Science Park, Pak Shek Kok, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Background: Analysis of circulating tumor DNA has become increasingly important as a tool for cancer care. However, the focus of previous studies has been on short fragments of DNA. Also, bisulfite sequencing, a conventional approach for methylation analysis, causes DNA degradation, which is not ideal for the assessment of long DNA properties and methylation patterns. Read More

Immunol Res 2022 May 19. Epub 2022 May 19.

Department of Immunology and Allergy, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, 165 El-Horreya Avenue, El Hadara, Alexandria, 21561, Egypt.

The implications of vitamin D deficiency on the immune system have become clearer in recent years, being associated with less immune response following HBV vaccine. We aimed to elucidate the effect of vitamin D supplementation and UVB exposure on short- and long-term performance of hepatitis B vaccine. Forty-five male rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups that were immunized with recombinant HBsAg. Read More

J Vet Med Sci 2022 May 17. Epub 2022 May 17.

Chinese People's Liberation Army Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ticks are an important group of arthropod vectors. Ticks pose a profound risk to public health by transmitting many types of microorganisms that are human and animal pathogens. With the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and viral metagenomics, numerous novel viruses have been discovered in ticks and tick-related hosts. Read More

BMJ Open 2022 May 18;12(5):e058985. Epub 2022 May 18.

Maternal & Child Health, IRD Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of zero dose children (who have not received any dose of pentavalent (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, type B and hepatitis B) vaccine by their first birthday) among those who interacted with the immunisation system in Sindh, Pakistan along with their sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors.

Design And Participants: We conducted a descriptive analysis of child-level longitudinal immunisation records of 1 467 975 0-23 months children from the Sindh's Zindagi Mehfooz (Safe Life) Electronic Immunisation Registry (ZM-EIR), for the birth cohorts of 2017 and 2018.

Setting: Sindh province, Pakistan which has a population of 47. Read More

J Viral Hepat 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Division of Molecular Research and Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Victoria, Australia.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is characterized by progression through different phases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and disease. Although not necessary for HBV replication, there is increasing evidence that HBV splice variants are associated with liver disease progression and pathogenesis. However there have been no studies to date on the frequency or diversity of splice variants for different HBV genotypes across the phases of CHB. Read More

J Viral Hepat 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.

To investigate the relationships between different hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection status and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and analyze the potential risk factors we conducted an observational retrospective study in HBV infected pregnant women to compare the differences of GDM prevalence and clinical outcomes between groups divided by HBV infection status. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlations among hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBV DNA and liver function. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors. Read More

J Viral Hepat 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) pregenomic (pgRNA) levels in HIV/HBV coinfected patients pre- and post-combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) are limited. This study aims to evaluate the distribution of HBV pgRNA levels in treatment-naïve coinfected patients and explore the changes that occur after the initiation of cART by examining patients from multicentre cohort studies performed in China. We included HIV/HBV coinfected subjects from the China AIDS Clinical Trial cohorts established from 2008 to 2014. Read More