title: [Prevalence of hepatitis B virus core promoter mutant isolated from asymptomatic carriers from areas with higher and lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in Guangxi].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the prevalence of HBV core promoter mutant (T1762 A1764 mutant) isolated from asymptomatic carriers from areas with higher and lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Guangxi.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for amplification of HBV DNA core promoter in sera, and then HBV DNA nPCR products were sequenced by direct sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that 50.6% (39/77) of all HBV asymptomatic carriers were positive for HBV DNA HBV DNA positive rates of the samples from HCC higher incidence area, Longan County, and from lower incidence area, Guilin city were 55.6% (20/36) and 46.3% (19/41), respectively. HBV core promoter mutants could be seen in 35% in Longan positive samples and 47.4% in Guilin. The common mutations in both regions were all double mutations (nt 1,762 A-->T; nt 1,764 G-->A), accounting for 25% and 21%, respectively. The difference of the double mutant between Longan County and Guilin city was not significant (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data implicated that the prevalence of HBV core promoter mutant isolated from asymptomatic carriers may not be correlated with the incidence of HCC in Guangxi.
authors.affiliation: Center for Diseases Prevention and Control of Guangxi, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-liao
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.forename: You-chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xian-min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Jin-ye
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Rong-cheng
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Tim J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000821:virology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000821:virology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens