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Biomedical subjects

B Larouzé

Publications and source records attributed to B Larouzé.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1977

Hepatitis-B virus in bedbugs (Cimex hemipterus) from Senegal.

Bedbugs of the species Cimex hemipterus (F) were collected on four separate occasions from the bedding in the huts of village dwellers in Senegal, West Africa. Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBSAg) was detected in unengorged nymph and adult bedbugs in each of the first three collections. 3 of 28 such specimens were HBSAg(+) in the first collection and 3 of 17 specimens were positive in the second collection. In the third, 6 of 9 were HBSAg(+) when the bed occupant was known to be HBSAg(+). 2 of these 6 positive insects did not contain human serum proteins. Bedbugs in the fourth collection were captured and kept alive without a blood meal for 30 days. 3 of 89 of these samples were HBSAg(+). These are the highest field infection-rates of hepatitis-B virus reported in any insect species. The bedbug must be considered a potential vector of hepatitis-B virus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Forecasting the development of primary hepatocellular carcinoma by the use of risk factors: studies in West Africa.

An association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) has been found in several studies in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere. In this paper we considered the interrelations between several events related to HBV infection, which include the presence of: 1) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), 2) antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), 3) antibody to the surface antigen (anti-HBs), 4) chronic liver disease, 5) elevated alpha-fetoprotein, and 6) PHC. With the use of preliminary epidemiologic data, risk factors related to these events were calculated. We suggested that the interactions between these events and HBV infection in parents be used to estimate the risk of PHC for an individual in this environment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

[The relation of infection with the hepatitis B-agent to primary hepatic carcinoma (author's transl)].

In Asia, Africa and other tropical areas primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) is associated with liver cirrhosis of the post-necrotic (macronodular) type. Chronic viral hepatitis is likely to be the cause of this cirrhosis in many patients from regions where chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common. More than 95% of patients with hepatoma (in Mali and Senegal) have evidence of infection with HBV, a much higher frequency than in controls. Thirty-nine of 62 PHC patients had hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) (controls: 8 of 98) and 56 of 63 (controls: 26 of 100) had antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBC). In earlier studies we demonstrated a maternal effect of HBSAg. If the mother has the antigen and the father does not, the children are much more likely to also have HBSAg than if the father has the antigen and the mother does not (93/161 = 57.8% when mother is positive vs. 28/135 = 20.7% when father is positive; p = 0.6 X 10(-10)). Studies in Greece and in the Solomon Islands show that presence of HBSAg in parents affects the sex ratio of the offspring of the mating. This implies that the presence of the agent in a parent can affect the fetus early in life. Parental studies in the African hepatoma patients showed that there is a very high frequency of HBSAg in mothers (71.6%) while the frequency in fathers (18.5%) is significantly less. This suggests that the development of hepatoma in offspring is related to infection in parents. We described a vaccine several years ago which may be useful in preventing infection with hepatitis B. Strategies are discussed which might be effective in preventing the development of carriers with, it is hoped, a consequent decrease in the frequency of HBV carriers, chronic hepatitis and primary hepatic carcinoma. The strategy would employ methods for decreasing the frequency of the agent in the environment by the application of public health methods including the vaccination of appropriate newborns and other members of the population.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Antibody to hepatitis-B core antigen in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma.

Antibody to hepatitis-B core antigen (anti-HBc) was assayed in the serum of patients with primary hepatic carcinoma (P.H.C.) and controls from Hong Kong, West Africa, and the United States. In each region the prevalence of anti-HBc was higher in P.H.C. patients than in controls, ranging from 70 to 95% in the patients and from 20 to 68% in the controls from Asia and Africa; 24% of P.H.C. patients and 4% of controls from the U.S. had anti-HBc. These data support the hypothesis that chronic infection with hepatitis-B virus is aetiologically related to P.H.C., especially in Asia and Africa, although other factors must also be involved.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1975

The relation of infection with the hepatitis B agent to primary hepatic carcinoma.

In Asia, Africa, and other tropical areas, primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) is associated with liver cirrhosis of the postnecrotic (macronodular) type. Chronic viral hepatitis is likely to be the cause of this cirrhosis in many patients from regions where chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is common. More than 95% of patients with hepatoma (in Mali and Senegal) have evidence of infection with HBV, a much higher frequency than in controls. Thirty-nine of 62 patients with PHC had hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (controls, 8 of 98) and 56 of 63 (controls, 26 of 100) had antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). In earlier studies, we demonstrated a maternal effect of HBsAg. If the mother has the antigen and the father does not, the children are much more likely to also have HBsAg than if the father has the antigen and the mother does not (93/161 = 57.8% when mother is positive vs. 28/135 = 20.7% when father is positive; P = 0.6 X 10(-10)). Studies in Greece and in the Solomon Islands show that presence of HBsAg in parents affects the sex ratio of the offspring of the mating. This implies that the presence of the agent in a parent can affect the fetus early in life. Parental studies in the west African hepatoma patients showed that there is a very high frequency of HBsAg in mothers (71.6%), while the frequency in fathers (18.5%) is significantly less. This suggests that the development of hepatoma in offspring is related to infection in parents. Several years ago, we described a vaccine which may be useful in preventing infection with hepatitis B. Strategies are discussed which might be effective in preventing the development of carriers with, it is hoped, a consequent decrease in the frequency of HBV carriers, chronic hepatitis, and primary hepatic carcinoma. The strategy would employ methods for decreasing the frequency of the agent in the environment by the application of public health methods including the vaccination of appropriate newborns and other members of the population.

Africa↗