Interplay between proteasome inhibitors and NF-κB pathway in leukemia and lymphoma: a comprehensive review on challenges ahead of proteasome inhibitors.

The current scientific literature has extensively explored the potential role of proteasome inhibitors (PIs) in the NF-κB pathway of leukemia and lymphoma. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a critical component in regulating protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. PIs, such as BTZ, are used to target the 26S proteasome in hematologic malignancies, resulting in the prevention of the degradation of tumor suppressor proteins, the activation of intrinsic mitochondrial-dependent cell death, and the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. NF-κB is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the regulation of apoptosis, cell proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, angiogenesis, and tumor migration. Despite the successful use of PIs in various hematologic malignancies, there are limitations such as resistant to these inhibitors. Some reports suggest that PIs can induce NF-κB activation, which increases the survival of malignant cells. This article discusses the various aspects of PIs' effects on the NF-κB pathway and their limitations. Video Abstract.

Dexamethasone as an anti-cancer or hepatotoxic.

The linkage between inflammation and oxidative stress in liver damage has been proven and is undeniable; dexamethasone with some antioxidants can reduce the toxicity of liver tissue. Due to the importance of cancer treatment, glucocorticoids' synergistic effect in inhibiting cancer cell growth is also investigated. Dexamethasone alone and combined with etoposide were tested at concentrations of 1, 5, and 10 µM to evaluate the potency of dexamethasone in inhibiting the growth of A549 cells using oxidative stress factors and DNA damage. Also, intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone in rats was used to induce liver toxicity. Coenzyme Q10 at different concentrations (1, 10, and 50 mg/kg) was used as an antioxidant to assess the oxidative stress factors and measure Caspase-3 activity. The results showed that dexamethasone combined with etoposide could significantly inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce apoptosis. Treatment of A549 cells using dexamethasone also inhibits cancer cells' growth by inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage. Dexamethasone also, by inducing oxidative stress and activation of caspase 3, ultimately causes hepatotoxicity. Treatment with different concentrations of CoQ10 showed improved mitochondrial function, antioxidant defense, and liver enzyme. The best effect of coenzyme Q10 on dexamethasone-induced hepatotoxicity is 50 mg/kg. As a result, dexamethasone (alone and combined with etoposide) has an anti-cancer effect by damaging DNA and inducing oxidative stress. Also, CoQ10 has antioxidant effects against dexamethasone-induced hepatotoxicity by improving mitochondrial function and reducing caspase-3 activity.

Tuning the polymer thermal conductivity through structural modification induced by MoS2 bilayers.

The present work refers to a physical and structural study of nanoconfined polymers in polymer-MoS2 nanocomposites as a function of MoS2-MoS2 interlayer distance. We applied reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (RNEMD) simulations to investigate the thermal conductivity (λ) of polyamide oligomers confined by MoS2 bilayers. The results of this study indicate that thermal conductivity of polymer can be considerably enhanced when polymer chains are confined by MoS2 sheets, this behavior is more pronounced by charged surfaces. The presence of MoS2 surfaces leads to elongation as well as preferential alignment of polymer chains parallel to the MoS2 surfaces, which in turn results in higher order and denser packing of polymer content and hence larger thermal conductivity in comparison to the bulk polymer. Additionally, the analysis of the number of hydrogen bonds (HBs) in confined polymer chains suggests that a combined effect of the mentioned structural modification and enlarged values of HBs may cooperatively contribute to high polymer thermal conductivity, facilitating phonon transport. The results reported here suggest a significant way to design confined polymer-MoS2 composites for significantly improving thermal conductivity for a wide variety of applications.

Amlodipine: Can act as an antioxidant in patients with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia? A double-blind, controlled, crossover trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study aimed to assess the antioxidant effects of amlodipine in transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia (TDT) patients. METHODS: This crossover trial consisted of two sequences (AP and PA). In the AP sequence, nine cases received amlodipine 5 mg daily (phase I) and then were switched to placebo (phase II). In PA sequence, 10 patients took the placebo (phase I) and were shifted to amlodipine (phase II). The washout period was 2 weeks. The length of each phase was 6 months. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA, µmol/L), carbonyl (protein CO, µM/L), glutathione (GSH, nM/L), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC, µmol FeSO4/L) were measured in the beginning and at the end of phases I and II. The clinical significance was viewed as a minimum change difference of 5% for each outcome between amlodipine and placebo. RESULTS: Seventeen cases completed the study. According to the baseline MDA values, the adjusted Hedges's g for MDA was -0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.26 to 0.08. After controlling the baseline protein CO values, Hedges's g computed for protein CO was -0.11, 95% CI -0.76 to 0.55. The estimated values of the adjusted Hedges's g for GSH and TAC were also 0.26, 95% CI -0.40 to 0.91, and 0.42, 95% CI -0.24 to 1.09, respectively. The change difference for MDA was 8.3% (protein CO 2.2%, GSH 3.1%, and TAC 12.9%). CONCLUSION: Clinically, amlodipine therapy is an efficacious adjuvant treatment with conventional iron chelators for improving the levels of MDA and TAC in patients with TDT.

The Interrelationship between Liver Function Test and the Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The outbreak of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has become a global public health challenge. Assessing the effect of COVID-19 on liver injury is of great importance. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to establish the characteristics of liver function tests in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A systematic search of publications from December 2019 up to April 2020 in Web of Science, Scopus, and Medline (via PubMed) databases was performed. Both cross-sectional and case series studies reporting an association between liver injury and COVID-19 infection were included. The data were analyzed using the STATA software (version 11.0) and the random-effects model for I2>50% was used to pool the results. Results: In this meta-analysis, 42 articles comprising a total of 6,557 COVID-19 patients were studied. The prevalence of increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels was 30% and 21% in non-severe patients and 38% and 48% in severe patients, respectively. Patients with severe COVID-19 infection were 4.22, 4.96, and 4.13 times more likely to have elevated AST, ALT, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, respectively. Conclusion: Elevation in liver function tests was higher in patients with severe than non-severe COVID-19 infection. Given the widespread use of drugs that increases the risk of hepatotoxicity, healthcare providers should be aware of changes in liver enzymes in COVID-19 patients. The inclusion of other studies from outside China could confirm the pattern of elevation in liver function tests in COVID-19 patients across the globe. Preprint of this article is available on medRxiv, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.20.20108357v1.

Low fermentable oligo-di-mono-saccharides and polyols diet versus general dietary advice in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recent evidence indicates that new approach of the diet with low fermentable oligo-di-mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) may have an effective role in management of the patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We compared the results of low FODMAP diet with current dietary treatment, general dietary advices (GDA), on the clinical response in patients with diarrhea subtype of IBS (IBS-D). METHODS: In this randomized, controlled, single-blind trial, we included 110 patients with IBS-D in two intervention groups. Participants were randomly assigned to the low FODMAP diet (n = 55) and GDA (n = 55) for 6 weeks after a 10-day screening period. Gastrointestinal symptoms and bowel habit status were evaluated using a symptom severity scoring system and Bristol stool form scale pre-intervention and post-intervention. Patients completed 3-day food diary before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Of 110 patients, 101 completed the dietary interventions. At the baseline, the nutrient intake, severity of symptoms, and demographic data were similar between two groups. After 6 weeks, the low FODMAP diet improves significantly overall gastrointestinal symptoms scores, stool frequency, and consistency versus GDA group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.003, respectively). Compared with the baseline, both intervention groups expressed a significant reduction in overall scores of symptom severity scoring system, abdominal pain, distension, consistency, and frequency, but this reduction is greater in low FODMAP diet group. CONCLUSIONS: Both low FODMAP diet and GDA in patients with IBS-D led to adequate improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms for 6 weeks. However, the low FODMAP diet has greater benefits in IBS improvement.

Green One-pot Synthesis of Novel Polysubstituted Pyrazole Derivatives as Potential Antimicrobial Agents.

Various biological properties of natural and synthetic pyrazole derivatives such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, antidepressant and anticancer activities encouraged us to propose a new, fast, green and eco-friendly procedure for the preparation of some novel 5-amino-3-(aryl substituted)-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles. They were efficiently synthesized via one-pot two-step process reaction of malononitrile, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and different benzaldehydes in deep eutectic solvent (DES) glycerol/potassium carbonate. The products yield and reaction times were considerably improved in the presence of applied DES. Antibacterial effects of all newly synthesized pyrazoles in comparison with several common antibiotics were evaluated against a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. In addition to, their inhibitory activities on three fungi were compared to some current antifungal agents. The moderate to good antimicrobial potentials particularly against fungi were observed in the major heterocyclic compounds according to the IZD, MIC, MBC and MFC results.

Interfacial thermal transport and structural preferences in carbon nanotube-polyamide-6,6 nanocomposites: how important are chemical functionalization effects?

We employ reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interfacial heat transfer in composites formed by an ungrafted or a grafted carbon nanotube which is surrounded by oligomeric polyamide-6,6 chains. The structural properties of the polymer matrix and the grafted chains are also studied. The influence of the grafting density, the length of the grafted chains as well as their chemical composition on the interfacial thermal conductivity (λi) are in the focus of our computational study. For the considered grafted polyethylene and polyamide chains we do not find a sizeable difference in the observed λi values. In contrast to this insensitivity, we predict a rather strong influence on λi by the grafting density and the length of the grafted chains. This dependence is an outcome of modifications in the structural properties of the polymer matrix as well as the grafted chains. Functionalization of the nanotube has a sizeable influence on the interfacial thermal conductivity. Its enhancement is caused by the chemical bonds between the nanotube and grafted chain atoms which reduce the number of Kapitza resistances hindering the heat transfer in polymer samples. The phonon density of states profiles confined to the bonded nanotube and the grafted chain atoms are used to emphasize the phonon support of the thermal conductivity in nanocomposites with grafted tubes. Strategies to tailor nanotube containing composites with higher thermal conductivities than that realized in the bare polymer are shortly touched.

Serum selenium level in patients with gastric non-cardia cancer and functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common gastrointestinal cancer in Iran. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) accounts as one of the main risk factors for gastric non-cardia cancer (GNCC). It is suggested that high serum selenium level may have a protective role in GNCC. In this cross-sectional study, we determined the serum Se level and the status of H. pylori infection in two populations with GC and functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: The enrolled patients were 85 (27 women, 58 men) with recent pathologically proven GNCC (adenocarcinoma) and 85 (34 women, 51 men) FD patients. Serum Se was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. H. pylori IgG antibody was detected by quantitative enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The mean age in the GNCC and FD patients were 62.85±14.6 and 58.9±14.7 years, respectively (P=0.08). The serum selenium levels were 111.6±27.7 and 129.9±32.1 µg/L (mean±SD) in GNCC and FD patients, respectively (P<0.001). The frequency of H. pylori infection was 49.4% (n=42) and 68.2% (n=58) in GNCC and FD patients (P=0.013). The crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) between GNCC and the linear effect of serum selenium level were 0.98 and 0.982, respectively (P=0.002). This means that each unit increase in serum selenium level decreases the odds of cancer by 2%. CONCLUSION: Serum selenium level was significantly lower in GNCC cases. It suggests that lower serum selenium might have some association with the risk of GNCC. H. pylori infection does not play a significant impact on this association.

Islamic fasting and weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on the effects of Ramadan fasting on weight changes have been contradictory. We brought together all published data to comprehensively examine the effects in a systematic review and meta-analysis. DESIGN: Relevant studies were obtained through searches of PubMed and CINAHL and by independent screening of reference lists and citations without any time restriction. All searches were completed between October and November 2011. SETTING: Changes in body weight during and after Ramadan were extracted from thirty-five English-language studies and were meta-analysed. Most of the studies were conducted in West Asia (n 19); the remainder were conducted in Africa (n 7), East Asia (n 3) and North America/Europe (n 4). SUBJECTS: Healthy adults. RESULTS: Fasting during Ramadan resulted in significant weight loss (-1·24 kg; 95% CI -1·60, -0·88 kg). However, most of the weight lost was regained within a few weeks and only a slight decrease in body weight was observed in the following weeks after Ramadan compared with that at the beginning of Ramadan. Weight loss at the end of Ramadan was significant in both genders (-1·51 kg for men and -0·92 kg for women); but again the weight loss lasted no longer than 2 weeks after Ramadan. Weight loss during Ramadan was greater among Asian populations compared with Africans and Europeans. CONCLUSIONS: Weight changes during Ramadan were relatively small and mostly reversed after Ramadan, gradually returning to pre-Ramadan status. Ramadan provides an opportunity to lose weight, but structured and consistent lifestyle modifications are necessary to achieve lasting weight loss.

Hepatitis B, C virus co-infection and behavioral risks in HIV-positive patients in southern Iran.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors and frequency of hepatitis B and C virus co-infections in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Control of Diseases Centre of Kerman Medical University, southern Iran, between May and December 2011. Demographic features and history of high-risk behaviours were evaluated in 165 patients positive for human immunodeficiency virus. Third-generation hepatitis C virus antibody and hepatitis B surface antigen tests were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. SPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Out of the 165 patients, 136 (82.4%) were male and 29 (17.6%) were female. The mean age of the subjects was 40.4 +/- 9 years. Positive hepatitis C antibody was found in 122 (73.9%) and positive hepatitis B surface antigen was present in 6 (3.6%). Frequency of all three viruses co-infection was 3 (1.8%). History of imprisonment (OR = 17.5; 95% CI: 7.1-43.1) and drug injection addiction (OR = 15.3; 95% CI: 6.4-36.1) were the most significant risk factors involved in hepatitis C virus co-infection. CONCLUSION: Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection was high and it was strongly related to history of imprisonment and drug injection addiction.

Clearing the Path: Exploring Apoptotic Cell Clearance in Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disorders for Therapeutic Advancements.

Inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, characterized by dysregulated immune responses leading to tissue damage and chronic inflammation, present significant health challenges. This review uniquely focuses on efferocytosis-the phagocyte-mediated clearance of apoptotic cells-and its pivotal role in these disorders. We delve into the intricate mechanisms of efferocytosis' four stages and their implications in disease pathogenesis, distinguishing our study from previous literature. Our findings highlight impaired efferocytosis in conditions like atherosclerosis and asthma, proposing its targeting as a novel therapeutic strategy. We discuss the therapeutic potential of efferocytosis in modulating immune responses and resolving inflammation, offering a new perspective in treating inflammatory disorders.

Transversal thermal transport in single-walled carbon nanotube bundles: influence of axial stretching and intertube bonding.

Using reverse nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations the influence of intermolecular bridges on the thermal conductivity (λ) in carbon nanotube (CNT) bundles has been investigated. The chosen cross linkers (CH2, O, CO) strengthen the transversal energy transport relative to the one in CNT bundles without bridges. The results showed that λ does not increase linearly with the linker density. The efficiency of the heat transport is determined by the number of linkers in the direction of the heat flux, the type of the linker, and their spatial ordering. The influence of a forced axial stress on the transversal λ has been also studied. The observed λ reduction with increasing axial stretching in a neat CNT bundle can be (over)compensated by cross linkers. The present computational data emphasize the contribution of phonons to the transversal heat transport in CNT bundles with intertube bonds.

Efficacy and Safety of a Persian Medicine Formula on Functional Dyspepsia Symptoms: A Randomized Double-Blind Active-Control Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal disorders with a high burden. Although FD is a heterogeneous disorder without any standard therapy (treatment/treatment - repetition), there is a wide history of using herbal remedies for its treatment. Two of these herbal remedies quoted in various Persian medicine resources are celery and ajwain. Their effects have been investigated in recent clinical trials in FD patients. We aimed to compare the effect of celery and ajwain to that of domperidone in patients with postprandial distress syndrome. METHODS: This is a randomized double-blind active-control clinical trial, conducted at Kerman, Iran in 2020. Participants of this study were 100 patients suffering from FD (postprandial distress syndrome subtype). The intervention group received 1 g of the combination of celery and ajwain (Apium graveolens L. and Trachyspermum copticum [L.] Link), while the control group received 30 mg of domperidone per day for 4 consecutive weeks. Primary outcomes were symptom severity and frequency, and secondary outcomes were quality of life (QoL) and safety. All outcomes were assessed at the end of the trial and also 4 weeks after the trial was finished. RESULTS: No significant differences in symptom frequency were found between groups. However, differences in symptom severity were found at the end of the follow-up (week 8) (p = 0.001). The intragroup analysis showed a significant decrease in the symptoms severity and frequency at the end of week 4 in both groups (p < 0.001). QoL in the intervention group was higher compared to the control group at the end of the study (p < 0.001) and at the point of the follow-up (week 8; p < 0.001). No serious adverse events occurred in either group. CONCLUSION: The herbal mixture of celery and ajwain could be considered a safe and effective remedy, decreasing the severity of symptoms and increasing QoL in patients with postprandial distress syndrome. It is further suggested to confirm these findings in high-quality multi-center clinical trials.

The effect of curcumin on hypoxia in the tumour microenvironment as a regulatory factor in cancer.

Hypoxia can lead to different responses from cancer cells, including cell death or survival, partially depending on how long it is exposed. Patients with cancer and under hypoxic tumour conditions have a poorer prognosis and are at greater risk of metastasis. Physiological response to low oxygen levels is controlled by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1. Curcumin, the major component of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L., reduces HIF-1 levels and function, inhibiting the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In addition, curcumin efficiently inhibits the angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells triggered by hypoxia. One of the most compelling features that drive continued interest in curcumin is the molecules' modulation of initiation, promotion, and progression stages of cancer while concomitantly acting as a radiosensitizer and chemosensitizer for tumours. In this review, we discuss the role of curcumin in modulating hypoxia and investigate the mechanisms and regulatory factors of hypoxia in tumour tissues.

Opium Use and the Risk of Liver Cancer: A Case-Control Study.

Limited evidence is available to acknowledge the association between opium use and liver cancer. In a case-control study, we recruited 117 cases of primary liver cancer (PLC) and 234 age and sex-matched neighborhood controls from 2016 to 2018. We calculated odds ratios (OR) for opium use and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), using conditional logistic regressions. Compared with non-users the adjusted OR (AOR, 95% CI) for opium use was 6.5 (95% CI, 2.87-13.44). Compared with people who had no history of use, a strong dose-response effect of opium use was observed by amount of use (AOR, 10.70; 95% CI, 3.92-28.70). Cumulative use of opium also indicated that using over 30 gr-year could increase the PLC risk dramatically (AOR, 11.0; 95% CI, 3.83-31.58). Those who used opium for more than 21 years were highly at risk of PLC (AOR, 11.66; 95% CI, 4.43-30.67). The observed associations were significant even among never tobacco smokers (including cigarette and water-pipe smoking). PREVENTION RELEVANCE: The results of this study indicate that opium use dramatically increased the risk of liver cancer. Because opioids are increasing for medical and non-medical use globally; accordingly, severe health consequences such as liver cancer have to be investigated widely.

Tissue factor (coagulation factor III): a potential double-edge molecule to be targeted and re-targeted toward cancer.

Tissue factor (TF) is a protein that plays a critical role in blood clotting, but recent research has also shown its involvement in cancer development and progression. Herein, we provide an overview of the structure of TF and its involvement in signaling pathways that promote cancer cell proliferation and survival, such as the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways. TF overexpression is associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis in various cancers. The review also explores TF's role in promoting cancer cell metastasis, angiogenesis, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Of note, various TF-targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, and immunotherapies have been developed, and preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of these therapies in various cancer types are now being evaluated. The potential for re-targeting TF toward cancer cells using TF-conjugated nanoparticles, which have shown promising results in preclinical studies is another intriguing approach in the path of cancer treatment. Although there are still many challenges, TF could possibly be a potential molecule to be used for further cancer therapy as some TF-targeted therapies like Seagen and Genmab's tisotumab vedotin have gained FDA approval for treatment of cervical cancer. Overall, based on the overviewed studies, this review article provides an in-depth overview of the crucial role that TF plays in cancer development and progression, and emphasizes the potential of TF-targeted and re-targeted therapies as potential approaches for the treatment of cancer.

Lipid-Based Delivery Systems for Flavonoids and Flavonolignans: Liposomes, Nanoemulsions, and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles.

Herbal chemicals with a long history in medicine have attracted a lot of attention. Flavonolignans and flavonoids are considered as two classes of the above-mentioned compounds with different functional groups which exhibit several therapeutic capabilities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. Based on the studies, high hydrophobic properties of the aforementioned compounds limit their bioavailability inside the human body and restrict their wide application. Nanoscale formulations such as solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, and other types of lipid-based delivery systems have been introduced to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. This approach allows the aforementioned hydrophobic therapeutic compounds to be encapsulated between hydrophobic structures, resulting in improving their bioavailability. The above-mentioned enhanced delivery system improves delivery to the targeted sites and reduces the daily required dosage. Lowering the required daily dose improves the performance of the drug by diminishing its side effects on non-targeted tissues. The present study aims to highlight the recent improvements in implementing lipid-based nanocarriers to deliver flavonolignans and flavonoids.

Higher Risk of Chronic Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1: An Iranian Cross-sectional Study.

Background & Objective: Occurrence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) infection may be common in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) patients and may lead to chronic infection as well as cirrhosis. We intended to determine the incidence of HEV infection among HIV-1 patients compared to individuals without HIV-1 infection. Methods: In our cross-sectional study, 87 HIV-1-positive patients were compared to 93 healthy individuals in Kerman, Iran. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from all the participants. Plasma samples were evaluated for HEV IgM and IgG using the ELISA kit. Then, reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested PCR) was used in RNA extractions from PBMCs to check for the presence of HEV RNA. Results: Among the subjects examined in our study, 61 (70.1%) and 71 (77.4%) out of patients with HIV-1 infection and healthy individuals were male, respectively. The average ages of patients with HIV-1 and the control group were 40.2 years and 39.9 years, respectively. No discernible differences were found between the two groups based on IgM and IgG seropositivity against the HEV. However, HEV-RNA was found in 8% of patients with HIV-1 and 1.1% of HIV-1-negative individuals (P=0.03). There was also an association between the HEV genome and anti-HEV and anti-HCV antibodies in HIV-1-positive patients (P=0.02 and P=0.014, respectively). Conclusion: HEV infection may be more common in HIV-1 patients and may develop a chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. Molecular-based HEV diagnostic tests, including RT-PCR assays, should be performed in HIV-1 patients with unknown impaired liver function tests.