URL:
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/hepB.html
Webmaster: Howard J. Worman, M.D.
Last Updated: 1998
Date Accessed: January 28, 1999
This site, created by a physician specializing in liver diseases, provides a brief overview of Hepatitis B for anyone interested in the illness. It contains short descriptions of the virus, risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis, cancer screening, and treatment. Following the text are several links to other websites containing information of Hepatitis B. The text is well written and requires only a basic understanding of molecular biology. Due to the shortness of the information (the page contains less that one and a half pages of text), Worman does not go into great depth, but provides an introduction to a number of topics relating to the biology, virology, and medical aspects of Hepatitis B. He does not include any graphics or a discussion of the Hepatitis vaccine. However, for students interested in a short and biologically oriented introduction to Hepatitis B, this website should prove to be a good starting point. Students with a further interest can either follow the links found on the page or visit The Hepatitis B Virus Page described below.
URL:
http://freespace.virgin.net/adam.keen/hepteach/hepjava/hhome.htm
Webmaster: Adam Keen
Last Updated: 1997
Date Accessed: January 28, 1999
HepTeach is dedicated to both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The author, Adam Keen, has created the site to provide a wider audience for an unpublished teaching aid intended for nurses titled "HepTeach - A Self Directed Teaching Pack on Viral Hepatitis". The main page provides links to the four chapters and three appendices (presumably) found in the teaching aid, as well as a list of several links to other Hepatitis websites.
Each chapter is devoted to one topic relating to Hepatitis (Transmission, Immunology, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C) and contains text accompanied by charts and illustrations. Unfortunately, the text is poorly written. I found numerous typos and misspellings. The information is presented in a slightly random manner, with each thought not always connecting with the previous and following thoughts. It is quite clear as to why HepTeach remains unpublished; it is simply not written well. I suspect that most students in our class could publish a more coherent website than this. The charts and illustrations are basic and provide some clarification.
Understanding the actual information requires only a very superficial knowledge of virology. For students who haven't studied immunology, the immunology section provides a brief description of the immune system. However, I imagine that it would also lead to confusion and a need for more information. For students who have studied immunology, they will notice that the information is not even entirely accurate. The information pertaining directly to Hepatitis B appears to be accurate, but I do not have any background in Hepatitis to confirm that. Based upon the errors in the immunology chapter, I would hesitate to support the reliability of the Hepatitis-specific material.
The overall design of the website also leaves something to be desired. The main page has an amateur appearance and does not have much organization. Each chapter must be accessed individually, and no links exist between the chapters, so that users must return to the main page after each chapter. A graphic running along the entire length of the left edge of each chapter obscures the first text characters of each line, making the text difficult to read. I would not recommend this website for any reason. Although not horrible, there are better and more user-friendly websites on Hepatitis B, including the two others reviewed here.
URL:
http://www.globalserve.net/~harlequin/HBV/
Webmaster: Robert G.
Last Updated: January 23, 1999
Date Accessed: January 28, 1999
This website contains a good deal of information about Hepatitis B, with emphasis on the virus itself. I am unclear as to who exactly "Robert G." is, except that he makes clear that he is not a physician. He states that the website is intended for those interested in information about the virus and its associated disease. Although clearly presented, it does require some knowledge of molecular biology, especially when viewing the virology section of the website. I imagine that it would be appropriate for any student enrolled in our class.
The website is divided into three main sections which are then
divided into several subsections, as listed below.
|
General Information |
Molecular Virology |
Other Information |
|
Introduction and History |
Genomic Map |
Questions and Answers |
|
Pathogenesis |
Life Cycle |
Terms and Jargon |
|
Epidemiology |
Particle Types |
Related Links |
|
Diagnosis |
Core Protein |
|
|
Clinical Types |
Surface Proteins |
|
|
Treatment |
Polymerase |
|
|
Prevention |
X Protein |
|
Each section is well written and contains detailed information which would be relevant to this course. Following each piece of text is an extensive list of references. The Molecular Virology section provides an excellent description of the various components of the virus, and each of the associated subsections contains at least one detailed and useful graphic. Of special note is the interactive Life Cycle illustration which contains links for a number of the elements found within the illustration. For anyone interested in the Hepatitis B virus, I would recommend that they visit this site. The Questions and Answers and Terms and Jargon sections can both help fill in any gaps in one's immunology and virology backgrounds. The page also contains numerous links to other Hepatitis websites.