Serum zinc (Zn) level dynamics in blood serum of patients with acute viral hepatitis B and early recovery period.

The aim of the present study was an analysis of serum zinc level dynamics in patients with acute hepatitis B and early recovery period compared with control group. The investigation included 39 patients aged 18-76 hospitalised in the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Medical University of Lublin, because of acute hepatitis B. Determinations of zinc (Zn) level in blood serum were made four times during hospitalisation and once, four weeks after discharging from the clinic in the early recovery period using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The control group included 24 persons aged 22-69. Zinc (Zn) levels of those people were determined once. The obtained numerical data were subjected to statistical analysis. Lack of significant differences between men and women allowed to calculate the range of our norm, which was assumed at the level of M +/- 2SD, that is between 12.948-19.036 mumol/l. The significantly decreased serum zinc level was observed during hospitalisation while the differences stated in the serum level of this element in initial and early recovery determination compared with control group results are markedly at random.

Pregnancy during lamivudine therapy in chronic hepatitis B--case report.

In case of a pregnancy in a patient infected with hepatitis B virus there is a risk of intrauterine fetus infection, which rises significantly with the serological profile of positive hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis Be antigen and in the presence of HBV DNA in serum. Therefore, in clinical practice the monitoring of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B in women of reproductive age is becoming especially important. The safety of lamivudine use in pregnant women infected with hepatitis B virus has not yet been proven. In this case, the patient became pregnant during the treatment with lamivudine and when hepatitis B virus replication markers were present in the serum (hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis Be antigen, hepatitis B virus DNA). Treatment with lamivudine lasted through the first 6 weeks of pregnancy, which was complicated by a possibility of intrauterine hepatitis B virus infection, did not cause any fetus injury.

Prolactin concentration in the serum of male patients with chronic hepatitis C.

In this work we analysed the dynamics of prolactin serum concentration in male patients with chronic hepatitis C. A group of 52 men were included in the study, 26 of them constituted the control group. The diagnosis of the disease was confirmed by the presence of HCV-RNA in the serum and by the histological examination of the liver. None of the examined men was diagnosed with any co-existing disease nor any infection markers of HAV and HBV were found. The prolactin concentration was determined in the serum of patients twice: on the 2nd day of hospitalisation and after 4 weeks of hospitalisation by the use of radioimmunological method (RIA) applying a prepared set of reagents RIA-PROL-CTK-4 (Sorin Biomedica, Italy). The results were statistically analysed. An analysis of the dynamics of prolactin serum concentration in male patients with chronic hepatitis C shows a statistically important increase in this hormone serum concentration.

Concentration of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (f1 + 2) in patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis C infection.

The aim of this study was to assess the serum concentration of F1 + 2 in patients with liver cirrhosis developed during HCV infection and in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. The study group consisted of 52 patients hospitalised at the Department of Infectious Diseases of Medical University of Lublin, Poland. Among them, 18 patients (8 men and 10 women), aged 19-59 years, had a stable liver cirrhosis and 34 patients (21 men and 13 women), aged 20-41 years, were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C infection. The control group consisted of 25 healthy individuals (13 men and 12 women), aged 19-60 years. The serum concentration of F1 + 2 was determined by the immunoenzymatic assay Enzygnost F1 + 2 micro. There were no statistically significant differences observed in serum concentration of F1 + 2, both in patients with stable cirrhosis and with CHC, compared to controls. However, in 16.7% of patients with cirrhosis and in 35.3% of patients with CHC elevated serum levels of F1 + 2 were observed.

Copper/zinc ratio in measles patients.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) levels and Cu/Zn ratio in measles patients in comparison to the control group. The study was conducted on 26 patients. The serum Cu and Zn levels were determined three times using atomic absorbtion spectrometry. The control group included 24 healthy persons. The serum Cu and Zn levels in those persons were determined once. CONCLUSION: in the acute period of the disease, a significant and highly significant increase in Cu/Zn ratio takes place.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and androstenedione concentration in the serum of male patients with chronic hepatitis C.

In this study the dynamics of DHEAS and androstenedione serum concentration in male patients with CHC infection were analyzed. The study group consisted of 52 men, 26 of them being the control group of healthy men. The DHEAS and androstenedione serum concentration was determined twice with radioimmunological method (RIA). 1. Mean values of suprarenal androgens serum concentration in male patients with CHC infection were lower than in healthy men and the observed differences were incidental, 2. There was no correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione serum concentration in male patients with CHC infection.