Background:Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is accompanied by inflammation of liver because of infection with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Previous studies revealed an inverse association between vitamin D and HBV DNA levels.Objectives:The current study aimed to investigate the levels of 25 (OH) D3 (the steady form of vitamin D), miR-378 and HBV DNA in the patients with CHB.Patients and Methods:One hundred and seventy three patients with HBeAg negative CHB were recruited for the study. Plasma levels of HBVDNA and 25 (OH) D3 were quantified. The expression level of miR-378 in plasma was measured by a relative quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) assay.Results:In the pathway regression analysis, the plasma level of 25 (OH) D3 showed a significant inverse correlation with plasma levels of HBV DNA (-0.198, P = 0.008) and direct correlation with miR-378 (0.188, P = 0.013). Similarly plasma level of miR-378 had inverse association with HBV DNA level (-0.177, P = 0.020).Conclusions:These results suggest that vitamin D could involve in a miRNA- mediated regulatory pathway in control of HBV replication. Further studies are recommended to understand the effects of miR-378 and anti-infective action of vitamin D on Hepatitis B Virus.

The development of the liver disease in chronic hepatitis B with common viral variants can be determined through the interaction between the virus and the host immune response. B cells constitute half of the intrahepatic lymphocyte population with an impact on fibrosis. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) has been shown to have a co-stimulatory activity on B cells. For this study HBV DNA was amplified and then sequenced to show the presence of the basal core promoter (BCP) mutations in the serum from 57 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The range of IgD-positive B cells was detected by immunohistochemistry in liver biopsies; and patients serum was assayed for APRIL levels by enzyme immunoassay. Twenty-seven patients (47.4%) harbored the A1762T-G1764A BCP mutations. Coefficients of logistic regression showed that the effect of increasing IgD-positive B cells in rising odds of the liver disease is the same in the patients with BCP mutation A1762T-G1764A and in the patients without mutation, nevertheless the effect of APRIL is not similar in these two groups of patients. Logistic regression in patients with BCP A1762T-G1764A mutations demonstrated that increasing one score of APRIL decreased the odds of fibrosis stage about 8%. These results suggest that in infection with viral variants of hepatitis B virus, the population of IgD-positive B cells may play a decisive role in later stages of the liver disease which is reduced by APRIL in chronic hepatitis patients with BCP mutations.

Introdution: The rapid and accurate diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is essential for effective treatment. Recently, troponin has been introduced as a biochemical marker for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Platelet parameters (P-LCR, MPV, PDW) play a key role in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate platelet indexes in the patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: In this cross- sectional descriptivestudy, 345 patients with acute myocardial infarction who referred to Shariati Hospital with chest pain were examined in 2018. Troponin was measured by Enzyme-Linked Fluorescence Assay. The platelet indexes of the patients were determined by Hydrodynamically focused detection method. Results: The results of Spearman correlation test between the three variables MPV, PLCR and PDW showed that there was a significant relationship between platelet parameters. Spearman correlation coefficient between two variables PLCR and troponin also showed a significant positive correlation. Following an increase in the proportion of large platelets, the serum levels of troponin were increased in the affected patients. Mean of the MPV, PLCR and PDW were obtained (10.37, 27.74, 12.15femtoliter), respectively. Conclusion:Platelet indexes of the MPV, PLCR and PDW can be considered as potent and non-dependent prognostic factors in the patients with acute myocardial infarction. In this study, P-LCR was more pronounced than other platelet indexes.