BACKGROUND Specific HLA class II alleles are associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) risk, clinical characteristics, and autoantibodies. HLA nomenclature initially developed with antibodies as typing reagents defining DRB1 allele groups. However, alleles from different DRB1 allele groups encode the same third hypervariable region (3rd HVR) sequence, the primary T-cell recognition site, and 3rd...

background: the double heterozygous state of α/β thalassemia may alter the hematological indices and modify the phonotype. in addion, definite characterizaon of co-inheritance of α- and β-thalassemia heterozygous carriers may change the process of genec counseling. materials and methods: an iranian couple with low hematological indices was analyzed for α-globin gene deleons using mulplex g...

BACKGROUND Occurrence of psoriasis has been found to be strongly genetically controlled in Northern European and U.S. twin and family studies. OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to assess cumulative incidence and heritability of psoriasis in the Australian population. METHODS Australian twins reporting psoriasis on a screening questionnaire received from 3808 pairs were mailed a detailed instrument ...

While multiple studies have shown that a woman’s control over land is positively associated with bargaining power outcomes, few have succeeded in highlighting successful methods for increasing this control. We report on a policy experiment in an unplanned settlement in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, that provided access to formal land titles to informal settlers at randomized prices, with additional ...

OBJECTIVES To assess whether public health nurses adhered to Dutch guidelines for tuberculosis contact investigations and to explore which factors influenced the process of identifying contacts, prioritizing contacts for testing and scaling up a contact investigation. METHODS A multiple-case study (2010-2012) compared the contact investigation guidelines as recommended with their use in pract...

OBJECTIVE Area 7 of the autonomous region of Madrid has one of the highest incidences of tuberculosis (23/100,000 population per year 2004). This study aimed to identify tuberculosis control in this area. METHODS A descriptive study of tuberculosis cases diagnosed in area 7 from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2004 was carried out by analyzing the incidence of tuberculosis and the management ...