Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Abbreviations: HBV: Hepatitis B Virus; HBs Ag: Hepatitis B Surface Antigen; HBe Ag: Hepatitis B e Antigen; anti-HBe Ab: Hepatitis B e Antibodies; HCC: Hepatocellular Carcinoma; HDV: Hepatits Delta Virus; GGT: Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase; ALP: Alkaline Phosphatase; ALT: Alanine Aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate Aminotransferase; AFP: Alpha Foeto-Pro...

Background: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a subviral human pathogen that exploits host RNA editing activity to produce two essential forms of the sole viral protein, hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg). Editing at the amber/W site of HDV antigenomic RNA leads to the production of the large form (L-HDAg), which is required for RNA packaging. Methods: In this study, PCR-based site-directed mutagen...

BACKGROUND Lamivudine treatment has been recently demonstrated to increase the serum albumin levels in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but the precise mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that the improvement of hypoalbuminemia by lamivudine may be attributable to the reduction of HBV replication itself, rather than to cessation of hepatitis. In order to confirm...

Delta antigen (delta) is a transmissible agent requiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) for its replication. Antibody to delta (anti-delta) was present in nine of 71 (13%) British HBV carriers: six were intravenous drug abusers and two were haemophiliacs. Anti-delta was negative in 30 HBsAg positive homosexuals. Cirrhosis was common in patients with anti-delta and those with anti-delta positive cirrho...

The role of active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in chronic HBsAg positive hepatitis with and without hepatitis delta virus (HDV) superinfection was analysed in percutaneous liver biopsy specimens from 50 patients. Each specimen was divided into two--one part for histological evaluation and for the detection of HBcAg and delta antigen; the other part was tested for HBV-DNA using Southern bl...