Jia-Horng Kao

Publications (362) View all

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  Available from: Jia-Horng Kao

  Article: Effects of hepatitis B virus precore and basal core promoter mutations on the expression of viral antigens: genotype B vs C.

  C-J Liu, H-R Cheng, C-L Chen, T-C Chen, T-C Tseng, Z-L Wang, P-J Chen, C-H Liu, D-S Chen, J-H Kao
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  ABSTRACT: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes/mutants are known to affect natural outcomes. The virologic differences among HBV genotype, precore and basal core promoter (BCP) mutations were investigated. HBV strains were isolated from 18 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients (nine genotype B and nine genotype C). All had precore and BCP wild-type sequences. After cloning of full-length HBV genome, the effects of viral genotype, precore and BCP mutations singly or additively on the expression of viral DNA and antigens were investigated by mutagenesis and transfection assays in Huh7 cells. Significant findings included the following: (i) expression of intracellular core protein increased when precore or BCP mutation was introduced in genotype C strains; (ii) expression of intracellular surface protein was lower in genotype C precore wild-type strain compared with genotype B; (iii) precore mutation was associated with a lower extracellular expression level of HBV DNA; (iv) secretion of hepatitis B surface antigen in genotype C was lower than that in genotype B; and (v) secretion of HBeAg in genotype B was lower than that in genotype C. No additive effect was observed by combining precore and BCP mutations. Hence, HBV genotype and precore/BCP mutations correlate with intrahepatic expression of viral antigens in vitro.
  Journal of Viral Hepatitis 10/2011; 18(10):e482-90. · 4.09 Impact Factor
• Article: The clinical significance of occult hepatitis B transfusion in Taiwan--a look-back study.

  T-H Su, P-J Chen, T-C Chen, H-R Cheng, L Li, K-S Lin, J-H Kao, D-S Chen, C-J Liu
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  ABSTRACT: A look-back study was conducted to determine the clinical significance of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) blood transfusion in an HBV hyperendemic area. Aim: To improve the blood transfusion safety. Background: Occult HBV is transmissible through blood transfusion in HBV-naÏve recipients. However, its impact on recipients with prevalent HBV infection in HBV hyperendemic areas is unclear. In 2006, 12 occult HBV blood donors were found from 10 824 repository samples by nucleic acid testing. The 74 corresponding recipients were identified and their pre- and post-transfusion clinical information was gathered, and the living recipients were recalled for follow-up. From the available archival sera, the HBV DNA was examined and sub-genomic sequences between paired donor and recipient were compared using polymerase chain reaction-based assays. Among the 74 recipients, 18 were still alive and 12 returned to our clinic. From the available serological profiles, 76% of recipients had ongoing or recovered HBV infection before transfusion. Only 24 recipients had available post-transfusion serological profiles and none seroconverted to be hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive. Moreover, except for the prior HBsAg carriers, the recipients' HBV DNA levels after transfusion were low (<20 IU/mL). One recipient had identical HBV surface gene sub-genomic sequence (384 nucleotides) to his donor. After transfusion, no recipient developed post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) and the clinical outcome was good. In HBV hyperendemic areas, occult hepatitis B transfusion might not lead to HBsAg carriage or PTH. The risk of transfusion-transmitted HBV infection was probably lower than that in non-endemic areas because most recipients had already experienced HBV infection.
  Transfusion Medicine 02/2011; 21(1):33-41. · 1.14 Impact Factor
• Article: Biphasic pattern of depression and its predictors during pegylated interferon-based therapy in chronic hepatitis B and C patients.

  Yi-Wen Huang, Jui-Ting Hu, Fu-Chang Hu, Ching-Jui Chang, Han-Yu Chang, Jia-Horng Kao, Sien-Sing Yang, Ding-Shinn Chen
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  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether depression in chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C during pegylated interferon-based therapy is associated with the virus, drug, or ethnic background. We aimed to perform a prospective study to evaluate the clinical course of depression and its predictors in consecutive non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B and C patients of same ethnicity receiving pegylated interferon-based therapy. METHODS: The occurrence and severity of depression were actively assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale before therapy and at week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and every 4 weeks during treatment until the end of therapy. Extensive amount of variables (repeated measurements, time variables, and interactions between all variables) were included in Generalized Estimating Equations to analyze the predictors of depression. RESULTS: A total of 158 consecutive patients (73 chronic hepatitis B and 85 chronic hepatitis C patients) were enrolled. Depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ≥ 11) occurred in a biphasic pattern, at treatment week 2 to 10 and week 16 to 36. Treatment week < 10 predicts more depression and treatment week > 12 predicts less depression, suggesting the predictability of time variable during treatment on depression. Furthermore, chronic hepatitis C or pre-existing depression is independent predictor of depression in these patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Depression occurred in a biphasic pattern during pegylated interferon-based therapy and should be early and actively assessed especially in patients with chronic hepatitis C or pre-existing depression.
  Antiviral therapy 10/2012; · 3.16 Impact Factor
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  Article: Viral load and ALT correlate with serologic response in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with entecavir.

  Chia-Chi Wang, Kuo-Chih Tseng, Cheng-Yuan Peng, Tsai-Yuan Hsieh, Chih-Lin Lin, Tung-Hung Su, Tai-Chung Tseng, Ching-Sheng Hsu, Hans Hsienhong Lin, Jia-Horng Kao
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  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although entecavir has been shown to have good efficacy and low resistance for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), factors associated with a favorable response remain unknown. METHODS: This was a retrospective, multicenter study of 248 treatment-naïve HBeAg-positive patients (69.4% male; median age, 39.4 years) treated with entecavir for more than 1 year, and 15.7% of them had cirrhosis at baseline. The primary endpoints were HBeAg loss and/or seroconversion. RESULTS: The median baseline levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV DNA were 201 U/L (range, 27-2,415 U/L) and 7.6 log(10)  IU/mL (range, 2.2-13.18), respectively. The median treatment period was 25.3 months (range, 12-69.6). The rates of ALT normalization at years 1, 2 and 3 were 83.1%, 87.9% and 94.9%, respectively. The cumulative rates of HBeAg loss at years 1, 2 and 3 were 20.3%, 38.0% and 48.9%, respectively. The rates of undetectable HBV DNA at years 1, 2 and 3 were 52.1%, 78.9% and 82.5%, respectively. Using Cox proportional hazards model, multivariate analysis showed that baseline ALT >5-time the upper limit of normal, and viral load were independent factors associated with HBeAg loss (hazard ratio: 1.81, and 0.812; 95% confidence interval: 1.062-3.085; 0.7-0.942, respectively). CONCLUSION: Entecavir treatment for 3 years can achieve good biochemical and virologic responses in HBeAg-positive CHB patients, but has a modest effect on HHBeAg loss and/or seroconversion. In addition, baseline serum ALT and HBV DNA levels are independent factors associated with favorable treatment responses.
  Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 09/2012; · 2.87 Impact Factor
• Article: Quantitative hepatitis B core antibody level may help predict treatment response in chronic hepatitis B patients.

  Quan Yuan, Liu-Wei Song, Chun-Jen Liu, Zhuo Li, Ping-Guo Liu, Cheng-Hao Huang, Yan Yan, Sheng-Xiang Ge, Ying-Bin Wang, Cheng-Yuan Peng, Jun Zhang, Jia-Horng Kao, Ding-Shinn Chen, Pei-Jer Chen, Ning-Shao Xia
  Gut 06/2012; · 10.11 Impact Factor