HBV Surface Antigen (subtype adw2, mutation Q129L)

Immature immune system and immune tolerance induced by exposure to HBeAg in utero and/or shortly after infection in newborns were reportedly the causes of chronic HBV infection. To investigate the effect of maternal-derived HBeAg on neonatal T cell immunity, we analysed and compared T cell phenotypes and functions among neonates born to HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(+)mothers (HBeAg(+)neonates), HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(-)mothers (HBeAg(-)neonates) and healthy control mothers (HC neonates), using flow cytometry. The results showed that neonatal T cell phenotypes were similar regardless of HBeAg exposure. Upon anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation in HBeAg(+)neonates, CD4(+)T cell production of IFN-gamma (P < .05) was significantly enhanced, while CD8(+)T cells secreted significantly more IL-2 compared with those in HBeAg(-)and HC groups (P < .05). Moreover, similar levels of IFN-gamma and IL-10 were observed in the culture supernatant after stimulation with rHBsAg, rHBcAg or rHBeAg among HBeAg+, HBeAg(-)and HC neonates, whereas HBeAg(+)neonates produced more TNF-alpha than HBeAg(-)neonates upon stimulation with rHBcAg. In conclusion, the results indicated that the HBsAg(+)/HBeAg(+)maternal environment did not influence the phenotypes of cord blood T cells but boosted neonatal non-specific Th1-type cytokine production.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the injuries exposing health care workers to blood and body fluids, distribution of such injuries by occupation and level of experience of the health care worker, and potential prevention strategies for reduction of such hazards. Methods: Our study was carried out in a 836-bed tertiary care education and research hospital that employs 3612 health-care workers. Data from 116 sharps injuries, which occurred in our hospital in 2018, were retrospectively analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 19.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). The data were obtained from the forms filled by the infection control committee and the workplace doctor. Results: Analysis of the 116 injuries registered in one year by occupational groups, revealed nurses to be the most frequently injured group (42.2%), followed by auxiliary healthcare personnel (32.8%). Source was known in 56.9% of the injuries. In those cases, serological investigations revealed HBsAg positivity in 5.2%, anti-HCV positivity in 3.4%, and anti-HIV positivity in 1.7%. Of all injuries, 94.8% happened through percutaneous contact. Majority (75.9%) of the incidents occurred during day shifts (08:00-17:00), 15.5% occurred during evening hours (17:00-00:00), and 8.6% occurred during night shifts (00:00-08:00). Most of the injuries (46.6%) took place as an instrument was being removed from the field. Injuries most commonly occurred among professionals undergoing their first year of work experience (67.2%). Conclusions: Injuries with exposure to blood and body fluids pose a major risk to health care workers. Compatible with the similar reports in literature, nurses were the most frequently injured professionals in this study. We suggest that attention should be paid to education and surveillance of waste disposal, specifically of contaminated sharps.