The first universal hepatitis B vaccination program for newborns in the world was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. Most studies on the effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination focused on the seroprevalence of HBs Ag among children under 14 years old. Only few studies focused on the seropositivity of anti-HBs among adolescents aged 15-18 years old. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact ...

BACKGROUND The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination campaigns on HBV epidemiology needs to be evaluated, in order to assess the long-term immunity offered by vaccines against HBV. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the current status of anti-HBV vaccine coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Southern Italy, and to determine the long-term persistence of antibodies to hepatitis B surface anti...

Abstract Background Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is highly pathogenic, and clinical studies revealed that HDV infection aggravates the natural history of underlying hepatitis B (HBV) by progression to cirrhosis leads early decompensation liver function compared with HBV mono-infection. To determine seroprevalence among HBsAg-seropositive patients associated biochemical profiles at Maiduguri, Nigeria...

BACKGROUND In 2000, hexavac and infanrix hexa were licensed in Europe for primary immunisation of children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, and invasive infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae b. In 2005, hexavac was suspended because of concerns about the long-term immunogenicity of its hepatitis B component. We aimed to assess the duration of immunity an...

BACKGROUND Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) characterized by the absence of detectable HBsAg remains a potential threat in blood safety. We investigated the actual prevalence, viral factors and genotype of OBI infections in Nigerian blood donors. METHODS Serum collected from two blood banks were reconfirmed as HBsAg seronegative by ELISA. Forty HBsAg positive samples were employed as ...

This study assessed antibody persistence and immune memory to hepatitis B vaccine 20 y after priming with a recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine during infancy. Infants were vaccinated according to a 0, 1, 6 mo schedule with or without simultaneous administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg). Half of the subjects enrolled received an interim booster dose at year 5 (boosted) group...

The effect of HbA and HbF on both the aggregation and deaggregation of deoxy HbS and deoxy HbCHarlem in concentrated phosphate buffers was studied by a turbidimetric method. Although pure deoxy HbA is fully soluble in 2.4 M potassium phosphate buffer, the same concentration of deoxy HbAS was insoluble in the same buffer. Since there was little dissolved hemoglobin in the solute of a mixture of ...

Most studies looking at the effectiveness of vaccination programs have been based on the postvaccination response among health care workers, infants, public safety personnel, and haemodialysis patients. 3-7 In 1991, the Ontario Ministry of Health expanded its free hepatitis B vaccine program to include high risk groups, comprising homosexual/bisexual men, heterosexual people having multiple sex...

BACKGROUND/AIM Healthcare workers (HCWs) run the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Studies investigating the HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serology of HCWs have been generally conducted in secondary or tertiary hospitals. In this study we aimed to determine the relationships between education level and HBV and HCV serology and HBV vaccination status of ambulance attendants. MATERIA...