Background: Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is defined as the presence of HCV-RNA in liver or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the absence of detectable hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) or HCV-RNA in the serum. Although occult HCV infection is less aggressive than classic chronic HCV infection, nevertheless it is important in management of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Occult HCV infection has been described in two different clinical settings: in patients with normal liver enzymes or in patients with abnormal values of liver enzymes. The aim of this study was to detect the occult HCV infection in hemodialysis patients with elevated liver enzymes.

Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed in hemodialysis patients referring to 3 dialysis units in Tehran. In 30 anti-HCV negative HD patients with elevated liver enzymes, presence of HCV-RNA in plasma samples was tested by Reverse Transcriptase-Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-nested PCR). In cases with negative anti-HCV and plasma HCV-RNA, HCV-RNA was checked in PBMC specimens by RT-nested PCR.

Results: A total of 30 HD patients with mean age 54.4± 14.1years and mean dialysis duration 81.2 ±64.4 months were enrolled in the study. All HD subjects were negative for HCV-RNA in plasma and occult HCV infection with RT-nested PCR method.

Conclusion: Occult HCV infection was rare in HD patients with elevated levels of liver enzymes.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of supplementation Jadvar on aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes after exhaustive incremental exercise in men's handball.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental double blinded study 12 handball players with at least 2 years record in league (with average age=21.42, height=186cm, weight=83.25, and body mass index=24.09kg/m2) divided into 2 groups (n=6) accidentally. Both groups performed maximum Bruce protocol until exhausting level. Before (fasting) and after performing protocol ,blood samples were taken from middle forearm vein and transferred to lab then supplementation group consumed three 500 mg jadvar capsules and control group consumed three 500 mg maltodextrin  for 7 days daily. 24 hours after eating last capsule ,they performed maximum Bruce protocol up to exhausting level and the samples were collected like primary protocol blood samples before (fasting)and after performing protocol and were transferred to the laboratory.

Results: The results of dependent and independent t-test showed that consuming jadvar supplements for 7days did not have significant effect on aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(p≥0.05).But alanine aminotransferase in supplementation group (16.83 mg.dl^-1) decreased in comparison to placebo group (20.5 mg.dl^-1). Also, aspartate aminotransferase was increased from 28 mg.dl^-1 to 35.17 mg.dl^-1 , but neither decrease nor increase was not meaningful (p≥0.05).

Conclusion: It seems that acute consuming of jadvar supplement and one session incremental exercise does not have meaningful effect on AST and ALT in man handball players.