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Neonatal HBV vaccine reduces liver cancer risk

Published

10 years ago

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Beijing: Neonatal hepatitis B vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of liver cancer and other liver diseases in young adults, says a study.

The findings are based on long-term outcomes from a controlled trial of neonatal HBV (hepatitis B virus) vaccinations that were conducted between 1983 and 1990 in Qidong County, a rural area in China with a high incidence of HBV-related primary liver cancer (PLC) and other liver diseases.

“Neonatal HBV vaccination significantly decreased HBsAg seroprevalence in childhood through young adulthood and subsequently reduced the risk of PLC and other liver diseases in young adults,” said Chunfeng Qu from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences’ Cancer Institute and Hospital.

HBsAg seroprevalence is an indicator of hepatitis B virus infection.

In this study, 41 rural towns (including 77,658 newborns) were randomised to the intervention (HBV vaccination for all newborns) or control (no vaccination) groups.

Two-thirds of the control group participants received a catch-up vaccination at age 10-14 years.

Based on survey data collected in 1996-2000 and 2008-2012 on HBsAg seroprevalence, the researchers concluded that the efficacy of the catch-up vaccination on HBsAg seroprevalence in early adulthood was weak compared to neonatal vaccination (21 percent versus 72 percent).

“Our results also suggest that an adolescence booster should be considered in people who were born to HBsAg-positive mothers and completed HBV neonatal vaccination series,” the authors said.

The findings appeared in the journal PLOS Medicine.

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Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

Published

3 years ago

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May 4, 2022

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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