
Notification of Donors With Positive Microbiology Markers
Human Immunodeficiency VirusHepatitis B3 moreEach year around 200 blood donors in the UK are found to be infected with blood-borne diseases (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HTLV), while several others have been identified as having an increased risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). Although the notification procedures for these infections vary, their effectiveness and appropriateness have never been evaluated in a systematic study. The proposed research has been designed to assess the responses of blood donors to notification and their satisfaction with how they were informed about the infection. The study will be implemented using standard questionnaire-based measures (French et al, 2004; Marteau & Bekker, 1992). The study will involve approximately 600 blood donors who were informed of an infection or possible infection with blood-borne diseases in 2008 and 2009, and approximately 100 donors notified of possible risk of vCJD infection in 2005. A comparable group of 2005 donors will be included to control for the effects of time. As the majority of donors testing positive donated to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the participants will be identified from the NHSBT database only, and their availability confirmed through their GP or specialist clinician. A standardized questionnaire will be then sent to all those identified as eligible. The study will last 12 months, but direct participant involvement will be limited to the time required to complete the questionnaire, which should take under one hour. To safeguard confidentiality, no identifiable personal data will be used in the analysis. Where demographic or medical information already held by NHSBT is retrieved to minimise response burden, this will be pseudonymised before use. The study is sponsored by the blood services for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The results will be used to inform notification procedures in the future.

Serological Evaluation of Varicella and Hepatitis A Vaccines Using Injector Delivery
VaricellaHepatitis AThis study aims to assess immunogenicity and safety of nd influence of the delivery system (needle-free injector or syringe with needle) of fractional doses (dose sparing) of two vaccines (Varicella and Hepatitis A vaccines) in children aged 13 to 30 months.

Study of Entecavir in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection
Chronic Hepatitis BThe purpose of this study is to prospectively assess the long-term outcomes (benefits and risks) associated with entecavir (ETV) therapy as compared to other antivirals approved for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. For the China substudy, patients randomized to entecavir will have safety and efficacy assessments performed during the first year of the study.

Effects of HIV and Hepatitis C Virus on the Brain
HIV InfectionsHepatitis CThis study will determine the effects that HIV and hepatitis C virus have on thinking abilities and whether the viruses affect brain chemistry.

Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C With Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin in Participants With/Without...
Hepatitis CChronicAlthough injection drug users represent the majority of new and existing cases of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), many lack access to treatment because of concerns about adherence, effectiveness, and reinfection. On the basis of a small but growing body of evidence showing that injection drug users can undergo treatment for HCV infection successfully, the 2002 NIH Consensus Statement on Hepatitis C has recommended that substance users be treated for HCV infection on a case-by-case basis. In this study, all patients will receive pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PegIFN-2b) and ribavirin according to European labeling; one cohort of participants will also be receiving substitution therapy (opioid medicines with long-lasting effects [methadone + buprenorphine] or morphine).

Post-marketing Surveillance Study of Ex-intravenous Drug Abusers With Chronic Hepatitis C Treated...
Hepatitis CChronic2 morePrevious intravenous drug abusers with chronic hepatitis C who are under substitution therapy (buprenorphine, methadone) will be treated with PegIntron and Rebetol according to the approved European labeling. The study will assess the tolerability, safety and efficacy of the treatment with PegIntron plus Rebetol in this study population. The objective of the study is to collect data on the prevalence of the hepatitis C infections in drug-substituted patients. The study will also compare the feasibility of HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) treatment in patients receiving Subutex® vs other drug substitution pharmacotherapies.

Effective Treatment of Hepatitis C in Substance Users
Hepatitis COpiate DependenceWe hypothesize that integrating Hepatitis C into methadone and buprenorphine treatment will improve Hepatitis C outcomes as well as drug treatment outcomes in patients who are addicted to opiates. We will test this hypothesis by randomly assigning patients to receive integrated or separated care. The first group will receive Hepatitis C treatment and substance abuse treatment contemporaneously at the South Central Rehabilitation Center (SCRC). They will take both methadone or buprenorphine and Hepatitis C medications under the daily (methadone) or weekly (buprenorphine) observation of a health care provider. The second group will receive substance abuse treatment at SCRC, and go to another facility to receive Hepatitis C treatment services. These participants will take their medications on their own (without observation). We will look at outcomes such as Hepatitis C viral loads, adherence to medications, and drug treatment outcomes such as receipt of buprenorphine and methadone and urine toxicology testing.

Role of Cytokines in Hepatitis E Virus Infection During Pregnancy
HepatitisCytokines1 moreHepatitis E virus is a public health problem in several countries of the world where safe drinking water is a problem. HEV is an exclusive cause of epidemic hepatitis in general population. HEV infection occurs most frequently in rainy season. The disease affects mainly young adults in the age of 15-40 years.HEV viral infection is of particular concern in pregnancy. It is a potential disaster for mother and child. HEV infection during pregnancy is fulminant and fatal especially if it occurs in third trimester. The mortality in the second trimester is around 20% and reaches upto 45% in the third trimester.

Study of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Viral Kinetics in HIV/HCV and HCV Patients
Hepatitis CThe purpose of this study is to evaluate what happens to hepatitis C virus in response to treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in patients with HCV compared to those with HIV and HCV. This research is being done to help us identify how the composition of HCV changes with interferon in different populations. We will examine how quickly HCV is cleared from your body and what factors may influence that clearance. This information may help us find better treatments for HCV.

Efficacy of PegIntron (Peginterferon Alfa-2b) and Rebetol (Ribavirin) in Treatment-naïve Subjects...
Hepatitis CChronic1 moreThe objective of the study is to evaluate the rates of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) eradication and relapse in participants treated with PegIntron and Rebetol in clinical practice in Greece. Participants will not be treated as part of the study. Data on participants treated in accordance with approved labeling will be collected retrospectively from approximately 30 sites in Greece.