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## Meet the editors

Streba Costin Teodor, MD, PhD, MSc, is Associate Professor at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova and a member of the university's Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His research focuses on diagnosis and histological image analysis in liver and pancreatic disease. Dr. Teodor specializes in devising medical-oriented diagnostic systems for gastrointestinal malignancies that integrate interpretation and

computer-aided quantification of various imaging and clinical data. He has published many studies in various high-impact journals.

Vere Cristin Constantin, MD, PhD, MSc, is Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova and one of the founding members of the university's Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His research interests span from neuroimmune mechanisms of gastrointestinal disease to novel diagnostic techniques in gastroenterology. Pioneering the introduction of wireless videocapsule in Roma-

nia, Dr. Constantin established a dynamic team of PhD and full-time scientists specialized in both medical sciences and bioinformatics. His publication record attests to his dedication for innovation in the field of gastroenterology and the complex integrative mechanisms that form the basis for this pathology.

Rogoveanu Ion, MD, PhD, MSc, is Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova and one of the founding members of the university's Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Mentoring a team of dedicated doctors and managing the curricular and scientific activities of the university as Rector, Dr. Ion is currently one of the lead authorities in ultrasound and power Doppler sonography, co-

ordinating postgraduate courses for the past ten years. His most prestigious recent publications are all in the field of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and various liver diseases.

Prof. Dr. Valeria Tripodi is a biochemist with a master's degree and a doctorate in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, and Independent Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). She is the currently director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Development, Research and

Control, in the Bioanalytics area. Prof. Tripodi has published more than sixty works in international journals, six book chapters, and four books. Since 1995, she has

carried out extensive activity of technological transfer. Her main area of research focuses on the development of analytical methodologies applied to the diagnosis and monitoring of different pathologies. Currently, she is the coordinator of accreditation and self-evaluation and a senior advisor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry at UBA.

Dr. Silvia Lucangioli is Full Professor in the Pharmaceutical Technology Department at the Faculty of the Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), and Investigator of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). She obtained a doctorate in Pharmacy, Biochemistry-Pharmaceutical Industries at the University of Buenos Aires. Her research focuses on the development of a miniaturized system for analytContents

**Section 1**

**Section 2**

**Section 3**

**Preface III**

Epidemiology of Hepatitis A **1**

**Chapter 1 3**

**Chapter 2 21**

**Chapter 3 33**

Hepatitis A: From Laboratory to Clinics **43**

**Chapter 4 45**

**Chapter 5 65**

**Chapter 6 77**

Other Hepatobiliary Conditions **95**

**Chapter 7 97**

*by Huafeng Lin, Aiping Min, Gang Li, Yan Lei Chang, Lei Shi and Dan Qiu*

Epidemiology of Hepatitis A: Past and Current Trends

Epidemiological Aspects of Hepatitis A: Endemicity Patterns

Applications of Animal Models in Researching Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A: How We Are after the Introduction of Vaccines *by Julia Teixeira Rodrigues, Priscila Menezes Ferri Liu* 

*by Damian Chukwu Odimegwu and Uzochukwu Gospel Ukachukwu*

Hepatic Involvement in Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

Antiviral Natural Products against Hepatitis-A Virus

*by Somanath Padhi, RajLaxmi Sarangi, Susama Patra* 

*by Saba Gargouri, Lamia Fki-Berrajah, Imen Ayadi, Amel Chtourou,* 

*by Anita Chakravarti and Tanisha Bharara*

*Adnene Hammami and Héla Karray-Hakim*

Hepatitis A: At-Risk Populations *by Rosa Coelho and Guilherme Macedo*

and Molecular Epidemiology

*and Adriana Teixeira Rodrigues*

*and Subash Chandra Samal*

ical methodologies and pharmaceutical formulations. Dr. Lucangioli has published more than eighty scientific articles, fifteen book chapters, and two books. She also supervises doctoral students. She is currently in charge of the Center of Research, Development and Pharmaceutical Control, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology (CIDEC), UBA, where is also Secretary for Technology Transfer.

### Contents



Preface

Although the subject of acute viral hepatitis A may be exhausted, this book aims to prove otherwise. The addition of a selection of three of the most important topics in hepatobiliary diseases adds weight to the current scientific endeavors, making this volume even more appealing to the specialist community interested in the joint

With large-scale vaccination programs for hepatitis A, its global incidence has steadily decreased. However, it remains a threat in several areas of the world, and in the context of globalization and frequent travelling it may emerge as a reputable threat to some medical systems on the globe. This book begins by tackling interesting epidemiological aspects and debating implications for at-risk populations while placing the pathology in a historical context and exploring possible future trends.

The second part of the book examines animal models used in medical research of viral hepatitis A. It explores aspects of molecular biology and introduces the reader to fringe aspects such as the complex chemical interactions of natural products and mechanisms of viral infection. This section is anchored in current realities with an up-to-date report on the demographic shifts and paradigm changes that came

Finally, the third section of the book presents novel insight into three of the most important biliary diseases: cholestasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and

This book will appeal to medical professionals in different areas of expertise as well as the broader medical community. We hope the information contained herein

**Streba Costin Teodor, MD, PhD, Msc, Vere Cristin Constantin, MD, PhD, Msc** 

**and Rogoveanu Ion, MD, PhD, Msc**

University of Buenos Aires,

Romania

Argentina

University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova,

**Prof. Dr. Valeria Tripodi and Dr. Silvia Lucangioli**

infectious and non-infectious pathologies of the liver.

with large-scale vaccination efforts.

hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

will spark interest and research in viral hepatitis A.
