Introduction. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between various biochemical, nutritional, and demographic factors and immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods. A retro-prospective study was carried out on 68 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Patients were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus with an intramuscular hepatitis B vaccination schedule, 40 micrograms at 0, 1, and 6 months. We also selected 32 age-matched normal healthy individuals who had previously been vaccinated against hepatitis B to compare their antibody production with HD patients. Results. The value of SERUM antibody level against hepatitis B SURFACE ANTIGEN (HBs) in hemodialisis patients and healthy persons were 35 ± 55 (median = 5.5) and 135 ±  71 (median = 175) mIU/ml, respectively. There was a significant deference between mean SERUM antibody level against HBs ANTIGEN of hemodialysis patients and normal subjects (P < 0.001). No significant difference was detected between antibody production against HBs ANTIGEN in males and females or diabetic and nondiabetics. There were not any correlation between SERUM antibody level against HBs-Ag and SERUM albumin, body mass index, age, amount of hemodialysis, duration of dialysis, dialysis adequacy, SERUM ferritin level, SERUM lipids, SERUM parathormone, calcium, phosphorus, SERUM hemoglobin, and SERUM hematocrit level.Conclusion. We did not find any factors related to SERUM antibody level against hepatitis B SURFACE ANTIGEN in patients on regular hemodialysis.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered as a serious public health concern. The health care workers and medical students are at a higher risk of HBV infection than the general population through occupational exposure. Vaccination against HBV is considered an effective means of infection prevention.Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine anti-HBs titers among the medical students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences within the national HBV vaccination schedule.Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 209 medical students born between the years 1989 - 92 within a national vaccination gap of HBV and received HBV vaccine before age 18 years. The levels of anti-HBsAg³10 mIU/mL detected by ELISA were considered as protective against HBV.Results: Of 209 students participated in this study, 11 (5.3%) showed no response to HBV vaccination. The protective titers of 10 - 1000 mIU/mL, and greater than 1000 mIU/mL of anti-HBs were found in 126 (60.2%) and 72 (34.5%) of students, respectively.Conclusions: The periodic monitoring of anti-HBs titers in medical students is important because of their awareness about the risk factors associated with HBV infection.

The hepatitis B SURFACE ANTIGEN (HBsAg), first named as Australia ANTIGEN, was identified and linked to hepatitis in the late 1960s by Blumberg and colleagues. It is now well established that this protein forms the outer envelope of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and constitutes the main diagnostic marker of both acute and chronic infection. This is facilitated by the fact that the protein is produced in large amount, not all of which is virus associated.

Background and Aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of both acute and chronic liver disease. It is estimated that there are 350 million carriers of the virus in the world, and a high proportion will develop serious liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this study was cloning and expression hepatitis B SURFACE ANTIGEN (HBsAg) gene to design a DNA vaccine. Methods: In this study, we amplified the HBsAg gene from Iranian patients. The gene was cloned in pGEMEX-1 expression vector and recombinant plasmid was transformed in to JM109 E. coli strain and induced by IPTG. Results: We amplified, cloned and expressed hepatitis B virus SURFACE ANTIGEN successfully and expressed protein was serologically assayed using gel diffusion and western blot analysis. Gene was sequenced and submitted to GenBank.Conclusions: The cloned HBsAg gene is ready for using in experimental DNA vaccine animal study. There are some mutations on this recombinant protein (T45D, Y206C and S207R) which will affect on folding and function of recombinant protein.

BACKGROUND: About 5% of the world population are carriers of the hepatitis B virus which is not the same in different areas of the world. Iran, with a rate of 2-3%, is among the countries with average prevalence. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBsAg and its associated factors in pregnant women who referred to urban health centers in Isfahan Province.METHODS: This was a descriptive study conducted on 1078 pregnant women who had referred to the urban health centers of Isfahan, Borkhar, Meymeh, Khomeini Shahr, Lenjan and Najaf Abad in 2009 in order to register their physical condition and receive pregnancy care. Random sampling method by quota was done. First, a questionnaire including demographic characteristics and history of high-risk behaviors in mothers and their husbands was completed. Then, a blood sample was taken and evaluated for the HB virus SURFACE ANTIGEN. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS software, Chisquare, Fisher and Logistic Regression tests.RESULTS: HB virus SURFACE ANTIGEN was traced in the SERUM of 0.5% of the participants. The average age of subjects was 26.1±4.9 (mean±sd) years old and the average pregnancy number was 1.79+1.0 (mean±sd). Using Fisher's test as well as logistic regression test and based on the previous history of high-risk sexual behaviors and tattooing, a significant difference was observed between the two groups with positive and negative HBsAg (p£0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Instructing the target groups and close monitoring of the high-risk centers such as beauty shops, tattooing centers and etc, and also staff training on how to use disposable and sterilized equipments have to be accomplished at the right time.

Background: Loss of hepatitis B SURFACE ANTIGEN (HBsAg) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is a favorable outcome. Type I interferon (IFNI) has an essential role to fight virus infections when they bind to the IFN- / receptor (IFNAR). Free-circulating IFNARs, known as IFNAR2, perform as carrier proteins to keep the ligands from proteolysis as well as antagonists for ligand binding. Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the HBsAg titer and IFNAR2 in SERUM baseline of a subcohort of Iranian HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Sixty-four patients who spontaneously cleared HBsAg and 100 chronic hepatitis B patients enrolled in this study for assessment of the SERUM levels of HBsAg and IFNAR2. Results: SERUM levels of HBsAg and IFNAR2 were both powerfully associated with loss of HBsAg. The baseline HBsAg titer was significantly lower (333. 72 1300 IU/mL vs 3811 6779 IU/mL, P = 0. 00) and the IFNAR2 SERUM level was significantly higher (1. 64 0. 6 vs 0. 87 0. 5 ng/mL, P = 0. 00) in those who cleared HBsAg compared to the CHB patients. Conclusions: These findings indicated the association of the HBsAg titer and SERUM IFNAR2 in HBsAg clearance in hepatitis B virusinfected patients. In consequence, immune mechanisms related to IFN- / signaling might be responsible in CHB outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Health employees have always high risk to be affected by hepatitis B. This study was conducted to determine SERUM concentration of anti HBs antibody in employees of Tohid hospital in Sanandaj that were previousley vaccinated against hepatitis B.MATERIALS & METHODS: This study was a descriptive study. The subjects were 100 empolyees of Tohid hospital of Sanandaj. The data was registered in a check list. The SERUM samples were titrated by ELISA method.RESULTS: SERUM titer of anti HBs Ab in forthy two subjects (42%) was more than 100 IU/li. It was 10-100 IU/li in 25% and lower than 10 IU/li in 33% of the subjects. The SERUM titer of anti HBs Ab was related to the time of last dose of vaccination (P<0.025). However, it was not related with sex, age and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects. CONCLUSION: According to this study, immunization is effective in 67% of the subjects while it is not effective in 33%. So, repeat vaccination may be recommended in many high risk persons

Backgrounds: SERUM hepatitis B SURFACE ANTIGEN (HBsAg) levels are associated with fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection.Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate SERUM HBsAg level as a biomarker for compensated cirrhosis in hepatitis B e ANTIGEN (HBeAg) positive CHB patients.Patients and Methods: Two-hundred and one HBeAg-positive Chinese CHB patients with or without cirrhosis were enrolled in this retrospective study. Cirrhosis was diagnosed based on liver biopsy. Furthermore, patients with decompensated cirrhosis were excluded. A statistical analysis was performed regarding the association between SERUM HBsAg level and compensated cirrhosis.Results: Patients with compensated cirrhosis had a significantly lower mean SERUM HBsAg level compared to those without cirrhosis (3.27 Log10 IU/mL VS 4.17 Log10 IU/mL, P < 0.001). Furthermore, examining the correlation with compensated cirrhosis revealed that lower level of SERUM HBsAg was a significant factor in multivariate analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of SERUM HBsAg was 0.856 for compensated cirrhosis. A positive predictive value of 66.2% and negative predictive value of 90.7% were obtained with a cut-off value of < 3.60 Log10 IU/mL (4000 IU/mL) of SERUM HBsAg. Moreover, the rate of compensated cirrhosis increased to 75.0% after combining with APRI > 2.Conclusions: In HBeAg positive CHB patients, low SERUM HBsAg level is a useful predictor of compensated cirrhosis.

Background: Hepatitis B DNA polymerase chain reaction (HBV-DNA PCR) is a test that is used in the evaluation and treatment of hepatitis B but this test is pretty expensive and may not be available everywhere. Quantitative test of SERUM hepatitis B SURFACE ANTIGEN may be a surrogate test, which is available with much low price. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of these two tests. Materials and Methods: Patients with positive HBsAg who referred to Boali laboratory in Yazd, Iran for HBV DNA test in 2012-2014 were selected and divided into three groups as inactive carriers, those at the beginning of treatment, and those on treatment (30 patients in each group). HBV DNA PCR was performed with real-time PCR method with sensivity of 150 IU/mL. HBsAg and HBeAg levels were measured by electrochemiolance. The level more than 0. 05/mL was considered positive for HBsAg. Results: SERUM hepatitis B SURFACE ANTIGEN quantitative level was significantly different between group one and group two, and also between group one and group three (p = 0. 001) but it was not different between group two and three (p = 0. 7). SERUM HBV quantitative level and HBV DNA had a positive relation (p = 0. 001, R = 0. 527). There was a relation between HBsAg and viral load in group one (p = 0. 017, R = 0. 431) and group two (p = 0. 023, R = 0. 427) but there was not such a correlation in group three (p = 0. 27, R = 0. 22). Conclusion: HBsAg quantitative measurement may be a surrogate test for evaluation of patients with hepatitis B because it is simpler and economic.