[Study on the risk of HBV infection among spouses of HBsAg carriers].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of HBV infection among the spouses of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers and to provide a reference for developing strategies on hepatitis B control and prevention. METHODS: A case-control study including HBsAg carriers aged 20 - 45 years-old from the nationwide sero-epidemiological survey for Hepatitis B in both Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces in 2006, together with their spouses were selected as case group, while. HBsAg negative persons and their spouses were among the control groups, under the same residential areas, gender, age and age of marriage to the HBsAg carriers. Questionnaire survey and hepatitis B serological markers detection were carried out, together with the HBV genotype detection among the HBsAg positive couples between husband and wife by PCR. RESULTS: Among the spouses of HBsAg carriers, the positive rate of HBsAg was 13.21%, while the rate was 6.29% for the spouse of HBsAg negative population, with difference statistically significant (χ² = 4.23, P < 0.05). HBsAg positive rate among spouses of the case group was higher than that in the control group. Among the spouses of HBsAg carriers, the HBsAg rate was positively correlated with the age of marriage, frequency of sexual intercourse and condom use. There were 21 pairs of HBsAg carriers between husband and wife, and HBV were isolated among 13 pairs, and there were 11 pairs carrying the same HBV genotype, accounting for 84.62%. HBV genotypes would include 8 pairs of type B and 3 pairs of type C. However, only 2 pairs were infected with different HBV genotype. CONCLUSION: High risks of HBV infection existed in the spouses of HBsAg carriers. It was important to ask the HBsAg carriers to take the initiative in informing their spouses, and carrying out the appropriate measures, such as safe sex or timely hepatitis B vaccination for the spouse of HBsAg carriers etc., so as to reduce the HBV transmission between husband and wife.

[Hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma].

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most dangerous risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How HBV infection leads to the occurrence and development of HCC is complicated. It is not only related with physical condition of HBV infection host, environment, HBV genotype, HBV viral load and gene mutation, but also related with age of HBV infection host, types of infection, and host chromosome integration site.

[Clinical analysis of 39 cases of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus].

OBJECTIVE: To determine accurately the incidence of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper esophagus (HGMUE) in China, and to study the macroscopic and microscopic aspects of the lesions and to evaluate the clinical importance of HGMUE. METHODS: A prospective study was made among a total of 15,228 consecutive patients, 8,573 male and 6,655 female, aged 54 (8-95), undergoing gastroscopy. Disease histories of all patients were carefully inquired, especially those regarding possible complaints including discomfort of throat and swallowing pain and so on. Special care was taken in the upper esophageal sphincter area to make sure whether the area was adequately inspected. Biopsy specimens from aberrant mucosa were obtained and the sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, and Giemsa stain for Helicobacter pylori. RESULTS: HGMUE was found in 39 patients (0.26%) with an average age of 50. Five patients with H. pylori infection in heterotopic gastric mucosa also presented the infection in the stomach. The gastric mucosa was gastric body type in 8 patients, transitional type in 11 patients, and antral pattern in 7 patients. Intestinal metaplasia was found in 5 patients, and mild atypical hyperplasia in 2 patients. An impressive finding was coexistent erosive gastritis in 14 patients (35.9%), Barrett's esophagus in one patient (2.6%), peptic ulcer in 8 patients (20.5%), and a patient had the complication of constriction in the upper esophagus. CONCLUSION: HGMUE is not rare in China. The presence of inlet patches is possibly correlated with specific symptoms. There are some severe complications in HGMUE, especially esophageal constriction. Close surveillance should be taken for rare cases with metaplasia or dysplasia in HGMUE.