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Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 May 4. Epub 2021 May 4.

Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: It remains unknown whether tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) could replace tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in patients with drug-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: In this multi-center randomized non-inferiority trial, 174 patients with HBV resistant to multiple drugs (lamivudine, entecavir, and/or adefovir) under TDF monotherapy for ≥96 weeks were randomized 1:1 to switch to TAF (n=87) or continue TDF (n=87) for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was proportion of patients with HBV DNA<60 IU/mL at week 48. Read More

J Hepatol 2021 May 4. Epub 2021 May 4.

Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China; Hepatology Research Institute, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Acute viral hepatitis (AVH) represents an important global health problem; however, the progress in understanding AVH is limited because of the priority of combating persistent hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infections. Therefore, an improved understanding of the burden of AVH is required to help design strategies for global intervention.

Methods: Data of four major AVH types, including acute hepatitis A (AHA), AHB, AHC, and AHE, excluding AHD, were collected by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database. Read More

Hepatology 2021 May 7. Epub 2021 May 7.

Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Background & Aims: We compared risk of acute liver injury and mortality in COVID-19 patients with current, past, and no hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Approach & Results: This was a territory-wide retrospective cohort study in Hong Kong. COVID-19 patients between 23 January 2020 and 1 January 2021 were identified. Read More

Turk J Gastroenterol 2021 Feb;32(2):178-186

Liver Disease Department, The Wuxi Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China.

Background: To investigate the association between interleukin-21 (IL-21) expression level and virological relapse (VR) of HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) after discontinuance of entecavir (ETV).

Methods: The serum IL-21 level of 112 CHB patients was measured at 0, 12, 24, 52, and 104 weeks after ETV discontinuance. ELISA was used for the measurement of serum IL-21 level. Read More

Expert Rev Vaccines 2021 May 7. Epub 2021 May 7.

Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Jiangsu province, China.

Objectives: China has implemented universal hepatitis B vaccination since 2002 and provided charge-free hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) to infants of HBV-infected mothers since July 2011. We aimed to compare mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in children born before and since July 2011.

Methods: In total, 5,149 children of HBV-infected mothers were tested for HBV markers. Read More

Birth 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Background: Registered midwives in British Columbia (BC) are primary health care practitioners for healthy people throughout pregnancy and for approximately 6 weeks postpartum. BC registered midwives are authorized to prescribe and administer certain vaccines to adults under their care during the perinatal period and hepatitis B vaccine to high-risk newborns. However, little has been documented about their recommendations for, and administration of, prenatal and infant vaccinations. Read More

Clin J Gastroenterol 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan.

A 76-year-old woman with spontaneous reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) without any immunosuppressants who had been successfully treated with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) was reported. The patient was admitted to our hospital because of acute exacerbation of the liver function and jaundice. She had been found to have chronic HBV infection with a normal liver function and had been treated for lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension, for over 10 years at a local clinic. Read More

Adv Biomed Res 2021 26;10. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: Protection against hepatitis B virus (HBV) is based on the presence of antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Vaccination of newborns is the most effective means of prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of anti-HBs antibody (anti-HBsAb), anti-HB core Ab (anti-HBcAb), HBsAg, and HBV DNA among university students in Fars province, Southern Iran. Read More

World J Hepatol 2021 Apr;13(4):504-514

Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040360, Brazil.

Background: To achieve the elimination of hepatitis B and C, there is an urgent need to develop alternative strategies to increase the access of diagnosis, particularly among key populations such as people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), individuals with coagulopathies and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Aim: To evaluate the use of dried blood spot (DBS) in the detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers.

Methods: A total of 430 individuals comprised of people living with HIV, coagulopathies and CKD provided paired serum and DBS samples. Read More

Semin Liver Dis 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is a composite measure of the serum levels of hepatitis B e antigen, hepatitis B core antigen, and a 22-kDa precore protein. It has been shown to reflect the level and transcriptional activity of covalently closed circular DNA in the liver. Longitudinal cohort studies have improved our understanding of the role of this novel viral marker in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B. Read More

Neuroimmunomodulation 2021 May 6:1-6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Immunology of Infectious Diseases Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.

Background: Depression and anxiety can modulate immune-related molecule expressions. The chronic HBV-infected (CHB) patients suffer from inappropriate immune responses. Additionally, psychological disorders are prevalent among the patients. Read More

J Hepatol 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Milan, Italy; CRC "A. M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Although discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) treatment before HBsAg loss is part of all current hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment guidelines for HBeAg-positive patients who achieved HBeAg seroconversion, a treatment endpoint known to be associated with silencing of HBV transcriptional activity and restoration of HBV-specific immune control, it is still highly controversial whether it is even appropriate to consider NA discontinuation before HBsAg loss in the HBeAg-negative phase. Despite the growing evidence that a relevant, albeit small, proportion of patients with HBeAg-negative disease can be cured by stopping NA treatment, the fear of discontinuation-associated relapse and the uncertainty of how to predict off-therapy response and monitor patients after discontinuation have generated scepticism and subsequently led to low implementation of this concept in the clinic. In this article, we propose a concept in which NA discontinuation-associated relapse is an integral part of the stop-to-cure approach and ultimately the trigger for achieving HBsAg loss. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Asian Liver Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA.

Background: An estimated 862,000 to 2.4 million people have chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB). Left undiagnosed and untreated CHB increases risk of death from liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Read More

Transfusion 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Blood Service, Belgian Red Cross, Mechelen, Belgium.

Background: Transfusion-transmissible infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) remain a major concern for the safety of blood transfusion. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the trend of HBV prevalence and associated risk factors among a first-time donor population in a low endemic country.

Study Design And Methods: Between 2010 and 2018, blood samples were collected from first-time donors presented at donor collection sites of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. Read More

Br J Haematol 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Sheffield Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.

The introduction of clotting factor concentrates has substantially improved the lives of people with clotting factor deficiencies. Unfortunately, the transmission of blood-borne viral infections through these plasma-derived products led to a huge epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus and viral hepatitis in people with haemophilia (PWH). In a significant proportion of PWH exposed to these viruses, the ensuing decades-long chronic infection resulted in excess morbidity and mortality. Read More

J Gen Intern Med 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Internal Medicine, Rochester General Hospital, New York, NY, USA.

PeerJ 2021 14;9:e11207. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) has gained increasing attention owing to its role in replication of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in HBV. This marker has the potential to be used in clinical programs aimed to manage HBV infections. However, several reports on HBV pgRNA levels in clinical cases have conflicting results. Read More

J Inflamm Res 2021 28;14:1661-1666. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Diabetic Foot Care Center, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.

We presented a case of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related type III cryoglobulinemia vasculitis (CryoVas) characterized by extremity gangrene in a patient with diabetes. The 60-year-old female had a 10-year history of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. She complained of sudden onset pain and swelling of toes which quickly progressed to gangrene, with fingers becoming pain and dark violet. Read More

Bull World Health Organ 2021 Apr 21;99(4):287-295. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Triple elimination is an initiative supporting the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of three diseases - human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, syphilis and hepatitis B. Significant progress towards triple elimination has been made in some regions, but progress has been slow in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest burden of these diseases. The shared features of the three diseases, including their epidemiology, disease interactions and core interventions for tackling them, enable an integrated health-systems approach for elimination of mother-to-child transmission. Read More

J Vet Med Sci 2021 Apr 29. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Institute of Immunology, Third Military Medical University.

The molecular features of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, eradication, and pathogenesis are poorly understood, partly due to the lack of an adequate animal model that faithfully reproduces the course of infection. Although Tupaia belangeri were previously recognized as HBV-susceptible animals, the course of infection in adult tupaias remains obscure. Herein, we performed a longitudinal study and demonstrated that adult tupaias were efficiently infected (90% infection rate) with 10 copies of the HBV genome. Read More

mSphere 2021 May 5;6(3). Epub 2021 May 5.

Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease (HIV/AIDS), Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Altered gut virome and expanded abundance of certain viruses were found in HIV-1-infected individuals. It remains largely unknown how plasma virus composition changes during HIV-1 infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART). We performed viral metagenomic analysis on viral particles enriched from human plasma from 101 men who have sex with men (MSM) with or without HIV-1 infection and whether or not on ART and compared the differences in the plasma virome. Read More

Gut 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Science-Bhopal, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Exp Clin Transplant 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

From the Hepatology, Gastroenterology, and Hepatobiliary/Transplant Unit, Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan.

Objectives: Early hepatic artery thrombosis is a serious complication that may follow living donor liver transplant. Acute graft loss and patient morbidity and mortality are possible consequences. The therapeutic algorithm includes surgical or interventional revascularization, conservative approaches, or retransplantation. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 May;100(18):e25327

Center of Liver Diseases.

Abstract: To compare the diagnostic utility of serum markers in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).This study enrolled 118 consecutive biopsy-proven NAFLD patients with or without CHB. Fibrosis scores of each marker were compared against histological fibrosis staging. Read More

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Molecular Biology in College of Basic Medical Sciences and Institute of Pediatrics in The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People's Republic of China.

The surface Toll-like receptor 9 (sTLR9) has been identified on the surface of the B cells and was presumed to be a negative regulator of B cell responses. CpG ODN, a TLR9 agonist, has been successfully used as an adjuvant of hepatitis B vaccine to enhance antibody responses. However, it is unknown whether the sTLR9 is involved in regulating the activation and maturation of B cells in the antibody responses induced by CpG ODN-adjuvanted vaccines. Read More

JMIR Res Protoc 2021 May 5;10(5):e22239. Epub 2021 May 5.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Unit (PROQOL), UMR 1123, Université de Paris, INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France.

Background: Late diagnoses of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are important public health problems that affect the population at large and migrants in particular. Missed opportunities of HIV and hepatitis screening are numerous, with language differences being a significant barrier to testing. Several studies have shown that migrants who do not speak the language of the health provider are less likely to get tested, due to health providers' reluctance to offer a test and to migrants' reluctance to accept testing. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2021 May 4. Epub 2021 May 4.

Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.

Objective: Nearly 25% of SLE patients are hospitalized yearly, often for outcomes that may have been avoided if patients had received sustained outpatient care. We examined acute care use for vaccine-preventable illnesses to determine sociodemographic contributors and modifiable predictors.

Methods: Using U. Read More

J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021 27;8:285-300. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Research Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: Early diagnostic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are needed to distinguish hepatitis B virus (HBV) associated HCC (HBV-HCC) patients from at-risk patients. We assessed the diagnostic values of serum Integrin beta-like 1 (ITGBL1) for early-stage HBV-HCC.

Patients And Methods: We recruited 716 participators including 299 in the training and 417 in the validation stage, (HBV-HCC, chronic hepatitis B (CHB), HBV-related liver cirrhosis (HBV-LC), and healthy controls) between 2017 and 2020 from three centers. Read More

Ann Gastroenterol 2021 26;34(3):431-437. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, National Expertise Center of Greece in Autoimmune Liver Diseases, General University Hospital of Larissa, Greece.

Background: The epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has changed in recent years as a result of various factors. Our aim was to assess the epidemiological characteristics and the evolution of the HBV infection in a well-defined area of Greece.

Method: Prospectively collected data from 1910 consecutive patients (60. Read More

Clin Cancer Res 2021 May 4. Epub 2021 May 4.

Berry Oncology Corporation, Beijing, China.

Purpose: Intratumoral hepatitis B virus (HBV) integrations and mutations are related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has shown itself as a powerful non-invasive biomarker for cancer. However, the HBV integration and mutation landscape on cfDNA remains unclear. Read More