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Perinatal Transmission (perinatal + transmission)
Selected AbstractsORIGINAL ARTICLE: Analysis of Immunological Markers Associated with Pregnancy and HIV-1 Infection: Relevance in Perinatal Transmission in HIV-1-Infected Pregnant Women with Low Plasma Viral LoadAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Naresh Sachdeva Problem, In HIV-1-infected pregnant women with low plasma viral load, risk factors associated with perinatal HIV-1 transmission are not clearly understood. Method of study, We analyzed distribution of peripheral CD8 T-cell subsets, plasma cytokines and measured secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI) and myeloid-related protein (MRP)-8 levels in whole-blood and cervico-vaginal fluid (CVF) specimens obtained from 35 HIV-1-infected pregnant women (group 1), 12 HIV-1-infected non-pregnant women (group 2) and 15 HIV-1 uninfected pregnant women (group 3). Results, The group 1 women had higher expression of CD38, human leukocyte antigen-DR and CD95 on CD8 T-cells and higher levels of plasma tumor necrosis factor-, and epidermal growth factor. CVF-SLPI levels were the highest in group-3, while MRP-8 levels were the highest in group 1 women in plasma and CVF (P < 0.01). Although there were no cases of perinatal HIV-1 transmission, group 1 women undergoing HIV-1-indicated cesarean section had lower levels of CVF-SLPI as compared with those undergoing normal vaginal delivery. Conclusion, Pregnancy contributes to the activation of peripheral CD8 T cells and increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines. Production of protective mucosal secretory factors such as SLPI is affected by HIV-1 infection in pregnant women and down-regulated SLPI levels may indirectly indicate a higher possibility of perinatal HIV-1 transmission. [source] Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in the Asia,Pacific regionJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2000Chien-Jen Chen There is a wide variation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the Asia,Pacific region. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection is lowest (< 1%) in North America, Australia and New Zealand, 2,4% in Japan, 5,18% in China and highest (15,20%) in Taiwan as well as several other countries in South East Asia. Perinatal transmission is common in HBV-hyperendemic areas. Geographical clusters of horizontal HBV infection have been reported in both high- and low-risk countries. Common sources of infection, including iatrogenic and sexual transmission, have been implicated. Migrant studies indicate the importance of childhood environments in the determination of HBV infection. Rural,urban and ethnic differences in the prevalence of HBV infection have also been reported. There has been a decrease in the prevalence of HBV infection after mass HBV vaccination programmes in some Asia, Pacific countries, which may be due to the intervention of possible transmission routes through the use of disposable syringes and needles, screening of HBV infection markers in blood banks, and prevention of high-risk tattooing, acupuncture, ear-piercing and sexual contact. A striking decrease in the incidence of HBV infection and hepatocellular carcinoma has been observed among children in Taiwan and other areas where mass vaccination programmes have been implemented. [source] Hepatitis C infection in children: A Melbourne perspectiveJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 4 2000B Karim Objective: To examine the clinical spectrum of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected children in our care by determining presentation, mode of acquisition, degree of co-infection, biochemical evidence of persisting hepatitis and treatment outcome. Methodology: A retrospective review of the medical records of all children attending the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, between 1990 and 1998, who had antibodies to HCV infection detected. Detailed clinical information, investigations and the results of treatment were extracted from the clinical notes. Results: A total of 94 children (age range 2 weeks to 19.7 years) were identified, of whom nine had passive transfer of maternal antibodies from HCV-positive mothers and were excluded from analysis. Sixty-seven children (79%) were infected by transfusion of blood or blood products. Perinatal transmission occurred in 11 children (13%), and six children (7%) had a history of i.v. drug abuse. The majority of children were asymptomatic at presentation. Of the 65 patients tested for HCV-ribonucleic acid, 43 (66%) were positive. Fifty-seven cases had serial alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) measurements over a mean of 28 months. Of these, 38 (67%) had an abnormal ALT. Ten cases (12%) were co-infected with hepatitis B virus, HIV or both. Of 12 patients treated with interferon, four responded with normalisation of ALT from 3 to 12 months post-commencement of therapy. Conclusions: Although HCV was largely an asymptomatic condition in our clinic population, more than half the patients had biochemical evidence of ongoing liver damage. Given the chronicity of this infection in the majority of patients and the long-term risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, children with HCV infection represent a high-risk group worthy of regular follow up. [source] Transmission routes of hepatitis B virus infection in chronic hepatitis B patients in The NetherlandsJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 3 2008M. Toy Abstract The Netherlands is a low endemic country for hepatitis B virus (HBV). Rotterdam, a city in The Netherlands harbors a large group of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients of which most are born abroad. The study included 464 consecutive CHB patients who were reported to the Municipal Public Health Service in Rotterdam from January 1, 2002 to September 15, 2005. The HBV genotypes, possible transmission routes of infection and travel history of CHB patients born in The Netherlands, were compared with those CHB patients living in The Netherlands but who were foreign-born, taking into account the ethnicity of the mother. Of the 464 patients with CHB infection, 14% were Dutch-born and 86% were foreign-born. The CHB patients in the Dutch-born group had genotypes A (35%), B (15%), C (11%), D (37%), and G (2%). In the foreign-born group, the distribution of genotypes was A (20%), B (15%), C (11%), D (40%), and E (15%). In the Dutch-born group, sexual transmission accounted for a larger proportion of infections (P,<,0.0001) compared to the foreign-born group, whereas perinatal transmission is reported to be higher in the foreign-born group and in the Dutch-born group with a foreign mother. The genotypes of the chronic HBV strains determined corresponded well with the HBV genotypes expected from the countries of origin of the patients or their mothers. Genotypes A and D are predominant in CHB patients in The Netherlands. J. Med. Virol. 80:399,404, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Decline of hepatitis B carrier rate in vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects: Sixteen years after newborn vaccination program in TaiwanJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 4 2003Hans Hsienhong Lin Abstract Taiwan was an endemic area for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and related liver diseases cause a significant drain of public resources. To control the endemic, a nation-wide newborn vaccination program was started in 1985. We reviewed the results of the annual survey for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) performed in freshmen class of two high schools in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, from 1991 to 2001. A total of 10,194 students, most of them 15 years old, were tested for serum HBsAg using enzyme immunoassays. There is a significant trend (P,<,0.0001) of decreasing HBsAg carrier rate from 20.3 to 4.4% in males and 14.3% to 2.4% in females, respectively, over 11 years. The HBsAg carrier rate was 16.0,20.3% in students surveyed during 1991,1993 (born more than 6 years before the start of the national vaccination program), which decreased to 7.7,11.9% during 1994,1999 (born 1,6 years before the program). It further declined to 4.7% and 3.4% in 2000 and 2001 (born after the start of the program). The HBsAg carrier rate in male students was significantly higher than that in female students in most of the years. The HBV newborn vaccination program not only successfully prevented most of the perinatal transmission of HBV but also reduced horizontal transmission of HBV to children born up to 6 years before the start of the program. Also, the protection persisted for at least 15 years. J. Med. Virol. 69:471,474, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Role of antiviral therapy in the prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus infectionJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 2 2009W. Chotiyaputta [source] | ||||||||||