Hepatitis outbreaks in hemodialysis (HD) patients and staff were reported in the late 1960s, and a number of hepatotropic viruses transmitted by blood and other body fluids have been identified. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was the first significant hepatotropic virus to be identified in HD centers. HBV infection has been effectively controlled by active vaccination, screening of blood donors, the u...

Aging is associated with hyporesponse to vaccination, whose mechanisms remain unclear. In this study hepatitis B virus (HBV)-naive older adults received three vaccines, including one against HBV. Here we show, using transcriptional and cytometric profiling of whole blood collected before vaccination, that heightened expression of genes that augment B-cell responses and higher memory B-cell freq...

BACKGROUND Viral hepatitis B (VHB) is an occupational risk for dentists. It is necessary that dental students start clinical practice immunized with the vaccine, response monitored and informed about the means of transmission of the disease. Rarely, there are studies, which evaluate concomitantly knowledge of these academics and their vaccine situation. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the knowledge ab...

The concept of adult immunization is difficult for many of the general population and of the physician population alike to perceive as important. In reality, the immunization of pediatric-age patients is largely an accepted fact and ongoing process but adults can findmany reasons to neglect themselves. Many physicians are aware that hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses a significant health risk to pat...

The incidence of primary liver cancer is increasing in several developed countries and the increase will likely continue for some decades. This is due to infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which peaked in the 1950s to 1980s. In some developing countries, the incidence of primary liver cancer has decreased, possibly as a result of the introduction of hepatitis B ...

The concept of adult immunization is difficult for many of the general population and of the physician population alike to perceive as important. In reality, the immunization of pediatric-age patients is largely an accepted fact and ongoing process but adults can findmany reasons to neglect themselves. Many physicians are aware that hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses a significant health risk to pat...

BACKGROUND Few studies have assessed long term persisting immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in children vaccinated during infancy with combined vaccines containing recombinant HBV surface antigen (HBs). We assessed antibody persistence and immune memory in children 4-5 years of age, previously vaccinated with four doses of combined hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine (Infanrix hexa). M...

A sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) specific for hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was developed. We designated the precore/core gene products as hepatitis B virus (HBV) core-related antigens (HBcrAg). In order to detect HBcrAg even in anti-HBc/e antibody-positive specimens, the specimens were pretreated in detergents. The antibodies are inactivated by th...

Background: Few studies have assessed long term persisting immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in children vaccinated during infancy with combined vaccines containing recombinant HBV surface antigen (HBs). We assessed antibody persistence and immune memory in children 4-5 years of age, previously vaccinated with four doses of combined hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine (Infanrix hexaTM). ...