Hepatitis B (VHB) and C (VHC) are significant global public health issues, particularly for certain risk groups. In the Czech Republic, individuals who inject drugs (IDUs), incarcerated people, and those with high-risk sexual behaviours are especially susceptible. This research investigates the epidemiology, risk factors, and effects of both diseases on these groups. It analyzes the incidence of VHB and VHC in Czechia over the last twenty years in the post-vaccine era, compares their occurrence, and identifies factors influencing their rates. A total of 28,160 VHB and VHC cases reported in the Czech Republic from 2000 to 2021 were analyzed, categorized into acute and chronic forms. Specifically, there were 8,762 cases of VHB and 19,398 cases of VHC. The research employed quantitative methods and descriptive data analysis. A spatial visualization of disease occurrence per 100,000 inhabitants in Czech districts was conducted for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 to compare disease development and the risk group of IDUs across districts. For VHB, transmission primarily occurs through intravenous drug use or risky sexual behaviour, with IDUs, men who have sex with men, and promiscuous individuals being the most at-risk groups. For VHC, sexual transmission is less common, with IDUs being the most at-risk group. Many VHC cases have been recorded in prisons, often due to shared razors or amateur tattooing and piercing. This discovery underscores the necessity for focused interventions and thorough strategies to address both diseases in high-risk communities.

• Klíčová slova
• Epidemiology, Risk groups, VHB – viral hepatitis B, VHC – viral hepatitis C,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hepatitida B * epidemiologie   MeSH
• hepatitida C * epidemiologie   MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• intravenózní abúzus drog epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• riskování MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• vězni statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can cause liver disease and lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To better understand the factors involved in viral infection and pathogenesis and to develop novel therapies, it is crucial to investigate virus-host interactions. HBV infection has been shown to increase the expression of the unconventional prefoldin RPB5 interactor (URI1), a cellular protein that promotes liver tumorigenesis and HCC metastasis. Our study investigated the role of URI1 in HBV infection in vitro. Although previous reports have suggested that URI1 may act as an HBV restriction factor, our results showed that URI1 silencing or overexpression did not affect HBV replication in HepG2-NTCP cells. In primary human hepatocytes, URI1 knockdown modestly reduced HBV markers but did not significantly alter acute infection. Supporting the premise that URI1 is a promising therapeutic target for HCC, our findings show that URI1 knockdown does not enhance HBV infection in an acute infection model. This suggests that URI1 may be a viable therapeutic target for patients with HBV-associated HCC without increasing HBV-related complications.

• Klíčová slova
• HBV, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatocellular carcinoma, URI1, Unconventional prefoldin RPB5 interactor,
• MeSH
• buňky Hep G2 MeSH
• genový knockdown MeSH
• hepatitida B * virologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• hepatocelulární karcinom virologie   MeSH
• hepatocyty virologie   MeSH
• interakce hostitele a patogenu * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory jater virologie   MeSH
• replikace viru MeSH
• virus hepatitidy B * fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Vaccination against viral hepatitis B (VHB) is the most important preventive measure that reduces the frequency of hepatitis B (HBV) infection in the population. VHB vaccines, initially plasma, later recombinant, have been available since the 1980s, the administration of immunoglobulin against VHB has always been a complementary method. Vaccination of HBsAg (s antigen HBV) positive mothers, together with the vaccination of all infants in the endemic region of Southeast Asia, in the 1990s, dramatically reduced the incidence of VHB in a vaccinated population. Based on these results, the World Health Organization recommended that all countries start regular vaccination of children by 1997, optimally within 24 hours after birth. Gradually, the vaccination of newborns, infants, or larger children began to be introduced in developed countries, which initially preferred vaccination of risk groups, especially health professionals, newborns of HBsAg-positive mothers, and patients with renal failure.

• MeSH
• hepatitida B * prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• vakcína proti hepatitidě B * aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• vakcína proti hepatitidě B * MeSH

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and affects millions of people worldwide. Developing an effective CHB therapy requires using in vivo screening methods, such as mouse models reflecting CHB based on hydrodynamic delivery of plasmid vectors containing a replication-competent HBV genome. However, long-term expression of HBV proteins is accompanied by production of progeny virions, thereby requiring a Biosafety Level (BSL) 3 animal facility. In the present study, we introduced a point mutation in the START codon of the HBV polymerase to develop a mouse model reflecting chronic hepatitis B infection without formation of viral progeny. We induced the mouse model by hydrodynamic injection of adeno-associated virus plasmid vector (pAAV) and minicircle plasmid (pMC) constructs into C57Bl/6 and C3H/HeN mouse strains, monitoring HBV antigens and antibodies in blood by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzing liver expression of HBV core antigen by immunohistology. Persisting expression of viral antigens over 140 days (study endpoint) was observed only in the C3H/HeN mouse strain when using pAAV/1.2HBV-A and pMC/1.0HBV-D with pre-C and pre-S recombination sites. In addition, pAAV/1.2HBV-A in C3H/HeN sustained HBV core antigen positivity up to the study endpoint in C3H/HeN mice. Moreover, introducing the point mutation in the START codon of polymerase effectively prevented the formation of viral progeny. Our study establishes an accessible and affordable experimental paradigm for developing a robust mouse model reflecting CHB suitable for preclinical testing of anti-HBV therapeutics in a BSL2 animal facility.

• MeSH
• chronická hepatitida B * genetika   MeSH
• kodon iniciační MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• myši inbrední C3H MeSH
• myši MeSH
• virus hepatitidy B genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kodon iniciační MeSH
• P protein, Hepatitis B virus MeSH Prohlížeč

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major public health problem worldwide, with limited treatment options, but inducing an antiviral response by innate immunity activation may provide a therapeutic alternative. We assessed the cytokine-mediated anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) potential for stimulating the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway using STING agonists in primary human hepatocytes (PHH) and nonparenchymal liver cells (NPCs). The natural STING agonist, 2',3'-cyclic GMP-AMP, the synthetic analogue 3',3'-c-di(2'F,2'dAMP), and its bis(pivaloyloxymethyl) prodrug had strong indirect cytokine-mediated anti-HBV effects in PHH regardless of HBV genotype. Furthermore, STING agonists induced anti-HBV cytokine secretion in vitro, in both human and mouse NPCs, and triggered hepatic T cell activation. Cytokine secretion and lymphocyte activation were equally stimulated in NPCs isolated from control and HBV-persistent mice. Therefore, STING agonists modulate immune activation regardless of HBV persistence, paving the way toward a CHB therapy.

• Klíčová slova
• Chronic Hepatitis B, HBV-persistent mouse model, STING, antiviral immunity, cytokine, nonparenchymal liver cells,
• MeSH
• cytokiny metabolismus   MeSH
• hepatitida B * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• hepatocyty MeSH
• herpesvirus B * MeSH
• interferony metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokiny MeSH
• interferony MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are the two leading viruses that cause the greatest number of virus-related morbidities in the world. HIV/HBV coinfection is correlated with high morbidity and mortality. For this particular reason hepatitis B vaccination is crucial for people living with HIV. METHODS: Patients who are being followed-up for HIV/AIDS and who have received a hepatitis B vaccine in 4 HIV clinics over a 5-year time period have been studied. Our multi-centered, retrospective, cross-sectional and observational study investigates factors that affect hepatitis B vaccination immune response of individuals living with HIV. The patients have been studied for the parameters such as age, sex, CD4 count at the time of diagnosis or vaccination, HIV-RNA levels, comorbidities, vaccine dosage, success of immunization after vaccination, and the demographics of the patients who have and have not developed immunity. RESULTS: Of 645 patients that are being followed-up in our clinics, 158 received hepatitis B vaccine; 39 of these 158 patients have been excluded from the study because they did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. Finally, 119 patients were evaluated in the study, 17 of the patients (14.3%) were females and 102 (85.7%) were males. The median age was 41.11 ± 10.09 (min-max: 18-75). Twenty-three of the patients (19.3%) were at the stage of AIDS during diagnosis while 80.7% were at the stage of HIV infection. Ninety-one of the patients (76.5%) have been administered a single dose hepatitis B vaccine on the standard 0, 1st, 6th month vaccination schedule, whereas 23.5% were administered a double dose on the same vaccination schedule. When further evaluated to find whether the patient was able to develop sufficient immunity (anti-HBs ≥ 10), it was found that the immune response was statistically significantly higher in the patients whose CD4 count was greater than 200 at the time of the first diagnosis and vaccination (p = 0.05 and p = 0.001, respectively). The patients have also been evaluated according to the number of doses they received (1 vs. 2). The immune response of the patients who received two doses was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: We can conclude that in the patients with CD4 count less than 200 at the time of their diagnosis and vaccination a high dose recombinant hepatitis B vaccine should definitely be administered as the normal dose and higher dose have similar side effect profiles and the higher dose provides greater immunity.

• Klíčová slova
• HIV/AIDS, Turkey, hepatitis B vaccine, vaccination,
• MeSH
• AIDS * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hepatitida B - protilátky MeSH
• hepatitida B * epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• HIV infekce * MeSH
• HIV MeSH
• imunizace MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• očkovací schéma MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• vakcína proti hepatitidě B MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• virus hepatitidy B MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hepatitida B - protilátky MeSH
• vakcína proti hepatitidě B MeSH

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Viral hepatitis, which appears most frequently at birth or during childhood, is a disease whose transmission routes include tears, bile, sexual fluids, sweat, milk, urine, feces, and saliva. The aim of the present study was to analyze the specificity of the immunochromatographic and ELISA diagnostic tests for hepatitis B surface antigen and compare them with PCR testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample was made up of 140 men and 60 women referred to the Urmia Medical University hospital to undergo PCR testing for HBV diagnosis. The ELISA test was performed using the Pioneer Medicine Company kit (Tehran, Iran). RESULTS: The results of the HBs-Ag rapid test and the ELISA test were compared with the PCR test. The HBs-Ag rapid test had 97% sensitivity and 91% specificity, whereas the ELISA test had 78% sensitivity and 76% specificity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: According to our results, the immunochromatographic test was accurate for diagnosing HBs-Ag in blood and the ELISA test had acceptable sensitivity and specificity, compared with PCR testing.

• Klíčová slova
• Antígeno de superficie de hepatitis B, Ensayo inmunoabsorbente ligado a enzimas, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Hepatitis B virus, Immunochromatography, Inmunocromatografía, Polymerase chain reaction, Reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, Virus de la hepatitis B,
• MeSH
• chromatografie afinitní MeSH
• diagnostické testy rutinní MeSH
• ELISA MeSH
• hepatitida B - antigeny povrchové * MeSH
• hepatitida B * diagnóza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• virus hepatitidy B genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Írán MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hepatitida B - antigeny povrchové * MeSH

Hepatitis B virus uses e antigen (HBe), which is dispensable for virus infectivity, to modulate host immune responses and achieve viral persistence in human hepatocytes. The HBe precursor (p25) is directed to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where cleavage of the signal peptide (sp) gives rise to the first processing product, p22. P22 can be retro-translocated back to the cytosol or enter the secretory pathway and undergo a second cleavage event, resulting in secreted p17 (HBe). Here, we report that translocation of p25 to the ER is promoted by translocon-associated protein complex. We have found that p25 is not completely translocated into the ER; a fraction of p25 is phosphorylated and remains in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Within the p25 sp sequence, we have identified three cysteine residues that control the efficiency of sp cleavage and contribute to proper subcellular distribution of the precore pool.

• Klíčová slova
• ER translocation, HBV precore protein, HBe, TRAP complex, hepatitis B virus,
• MeSH
• cystein metabolismus   MeSH
• endoplazmatické retikulum metabolismus   MeSH
• hepatitida B - antigeny e * metabolismus   MeSH
• hepatitida B * metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránové glykoproteiny MeSH
• proteiny - lokalizační signály genetika   MeSH
• proteiny vázající vápník MeSH
• receptory cytoplazmatické a nukleární MeSH
• receptory peptidů MeSH
• virus hepatitidy B metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cystein MeSH
• hepatitida B - antigeny e * MeSH
• membránové glykoproteiny MeSH
• proteiny - lokalizační signály MeSH
• proteiny vázající vápník MeSH
• receptory cytoplazmatické a nukleární MeSH
• receptory peptidů MeSH
• signal sequence receptor MeSH Prohlížeč

Nucleos(t)ide analogues entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are recommended as first-line monotherapies for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Multiple HBV genotypes/subgenotypes have been described, but their impact on treatment response remains largely elusive. We investigated the effectiveness of ETV/TDF on HBV/D-subgenotypes, D1/D2/D3/D5, studied the structural/functional differences in subgenotype-specific reverse transcriptase (RT) domains of viral polymerase, and identified novel molecules with robust inhibitory activity on various D-subgenotypes. Transfection of Huh7 cells with full-length D1/D2/D3/D5 and in vitro TDF/ETV susceptibility assays demonstrated that D1/D2 had greater susceptibility to TDF/ETV while D3/D5 exhibited poorer response. Additionally, HBV load was substantially reduced in TDF-treated CHB patients carrying D1/D2 but minimally reduced in D3/D5-infected patients. Comparison of RT sequences of D-subgenotypes led to identification of unique subgenotype-specific residues, and molecular modeling/docking/simulation studies depicted differential bindings of TDF/ETV to the active site of their respective RTs. Replacement of signature residues in D3/D5 HBV clones with corresponding amino acids seen in D1/D2 improved their susceptibility to TDF/ETV. Using high throughput virtual screening, we identified N(9)-[3-fluoro-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl] (FPMP) derivatives of purine bases, including N6-substituted (S)-FPMP derivative of 2,6-diaminopurine (DAP) (OB-123-VK), as potential binders of RT of different D-subgenotypes. We synthesized (S)-FPMPG prodrugs (FK-381-FEE/FK-381-SEE/FK-382) and tested their effectiveness along with OB-123-VK. Both OB-123-VK and FK-381-FEE exerted similar antiviral activities against all D-subgenotypes, although FK-381-FEE was more potent. Our study highlighted the natural variation in therapeutic response of D1/D2/D3/D5 and emphasized the need for HBV subgenotype determination before treatment. Novel molecules described here could benefit future design/discovery of pan-D-subgenotypic inhibitors. IMPORTANCE Current treatment of chronic hepatitis B relies heavily on nucleotide/nucleoside analogs in particular, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and entecavir (ETV) to keep HBV replication under control and prevent end-stage liver diseases. However, it was unclear whether the therapeutic effects of TDF/ETV differ among patients infected with different HBV genotypes and subgenotypes. HBV genotype D is the most widespread of all HBV genotypes and multiple D-subgenotypes have been described. We here report that different subgenotypes of HBV genotype-D exhibit variable response toward TDF and ETV and this could be attributed to naturally occurring amino acid changes in the reverse transcriptase domain of the subgenotype-specific polymerase. Further, we identified novel molecules and also synthesized prodrugs that are equally effective on different D-subgenotypes and could facilitate management of HBV/D-infected patients irrespective of D-subgenotype.

• Klíčová slova
• antiviral activity, entecavir, hepatitis B virus D-subgenotypes, high throughput virtual screening, phosphonate prodrug, tenofovir,
• MeSH
• antivirové látky chemie   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• chronická hepatitida B farmakoterapie   virologie   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• guanin analogy a deriváty   chemie   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• inhibitory reverzní transkriptasy chemie   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• organofosfonáty chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• prekurzory léčiv MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• racionální návrh léčiv * MeSH
• reverzní transkriptasa chemie   genetika   MeSH
• tenofovir chemie   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• virová léková rezistence účinky léků   genetika   MeSH
• virová nálož účinky léků   MeSH
• virus hepatitidy B účinky léků   enzymologie   genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antivirové látky MeSH
• entecavir MeSH Prohlížeč
• guanin MeSH
• inhibitory reverzní transkriptasy MeSH
• organofosfonáty MeSH
• prekurzory léčiv MeSH
• reverzní transkriptasa MeSH
• tenofovir MeSH

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) points to consider (PtCs) for the management of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA). METHODS: An EULAR Task Force was established comprising 34 individuals: 26 rheumatologists, patient partners and rheumatology experienced health professionals. Two systematic literature reviews addressed clinical questions around diagnostic challenges, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies in D2T RA. PtCs were formulated based on the identified evidence and expert opinion. Strength of recommendations (SoR, scale A-D: A typically consistent level 1 studies and D level 5 evidence or inconsistent studies) and level of agreement (LoA, scale 0-10: 0 completely disagree and 10 completely agree) of the PtCs were determined by the Task Force members. RESULTS: Two overarching principles and 11 PtCs were defined concerning diagnostic confirmation of RA, evaluation of inflammatory disease activity, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, treatment adherence, functional disability, pain, fatigue, goal setting and self-efficacy and the impact of comorbidities. The SoR varied from level C to level D. The mean LoA with the overarching principles and PtCs was generally high (8.4-9.6). CONCLUSIONS: These PtCs for D2T RA can serve as a clinical roadmap to support healthcare professionals and patients to deliver holistic management and more personalised pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies. High-quality evidence was scarce. A research agenda was created to guide future research.

• Klíčová slova
• arthritis, fibromyalgia, inflammation, rheumatoid, ultrasonography,
• MeSH
• adherence k farmakoterapii MeSH
• antirevmatika aplikace a dávkování   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• cvičení MeSH
• hepatitida B komplikace   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• hepatitida C komplikace   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• kognitivně behaviorální terapie MeSH
• komorbidita MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• revmatoidní artritida komplikace   diagnóza   farmakoterapie   terapie   MeSH
• určení symptomu MeSH
• vzdělávání pacientů jako téma MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• směrnice pro lékařskou praxi MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antirevmatika MeSH