[Prevalence of hepatitis G virus among Tunisian blood donors]

Prevalence of hepatitis G virus among Tunisian blood donors Hepatitis G virus [GBV-C/HGV] is a recently identified virus which occurs worldwide. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV in Tunisia has not been previously studied. We aimed to assess the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV infection in Tunisian blood donors. A total of 912 blood donors were tested for anti-E2 antibodies of GBV-C/HGV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and 600 were tested by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. GBV-C/HGV RNA was found in 5.3% of the sample and HGV antibodies occurred in 4.9%. A correlation was noticed between GBV-C/HGV infection and hepatitis C virus [P = 0.006]. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV is similar to that reported worldwide

Epstein-Barr virus in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

We compared 50 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas [cases] and 45 matched healthy controls. Biopsy specimens were taken from tumours and normal tissue of the cases and controls respectively and serial paraffin embedded sections were processed to detect Epstein-Barr [EB] viral antigen. We found EB viral proteins in 38% of cases and none in controls, which suggests a positive correlation. Serum samples were also tested for the presence of EB virus IgG by ELISA for comparison with immunohistochemical findings. Patients with positive immunohistochemical staining results had significantly higher mean antibody titres compared with those with negative results. ELISA may be useful in determining the etiology of head and neck cancers, but the results are not unequivocally reliable

Removing hepatitis C virus from polytetrafluoroethylene-coated orthodontic archwires and other dental instruments

The efficacy of removing, rather than destroying, hepatitis C virus [HCV] from polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]-coated orthodontic archwires was tested. PTFE-coated archwires, pieces of PTFE and endodontic files [20 each] were immersed in HCV-infected blood for 24 hours. Half were washed under running water for 10 seconds while the remainder were thoroughly scrubbed with a toothbrush under running water for 10 seconds. Items were kept in separate dishes of distilled water for 24 hours. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used for viral replication. Viruses were detected by the gel method using a transilluminator. Only scrubbed PTFE pieces and coated archwires were negative for HCV. This suggests that PTFE coating of dental instruments inhibited HCV adhesion when thoroughly scrubbed

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in Mazandaran Province, Islamic Republic of Iran

We report the prevalence of human papillomavirus [HPV] types in 100 cervical biopsy specimens in Mazandaran province. HPV DNA was detected in 78.6% of cervical carcinoma cases, 64.3% of dys/ metaplasia and 9% of normal cases. Significant correlation was found between the presence of HPV DNA and development of cervical carcinoma. HPV types 16 and 18 were detected in 60.6% of HPV-positive cervical carcinoma cases, whereas HPV31 and 33 were found in 21.2%, and HPV6 and 11 in 18.2%. Among HPV-positive dys/metaplasia cases, 55.6% were positive for HPV16 and 18, 22.3% for HPV6 and 11, and 11.1% for HPV31 and 33. Only HPV6 and 11 were detected in 4 [100%] normal biopsy specimens

History of miscarriage as a risk factor for hepatitis C virus infection in pregnant Iraqi women

Sera from 3491 pregnant women were screened for the presence of HCV antibodies [anti-HCV]. HCV genotyping was also performed on the sera of 94 women. The overall anti-HCV seroprevalence was 3.21%. Anti-HCV seroprevalence was significantly positively correlated with the number of miscarriages. Miscarriage was a significant risk factor for the acquisition of HCV infection from the first miscarriage up to the fifth, the risk increasing with increasing number of miscarriages. A higher proportion of women with a history of miscarriage harboured HCV-1b compared to those with no miscarriage