OBJECTIVE To identify changes in hepatitis B epidemiology after the implementation of the nationwide vaccination program in Turkey, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and related tests performed over a period of 11 years (2000-2010) at a reference centre were retrospectively overviewed and statistically analysed for trends. RESULTS Assay results for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and e antigen (HBe...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Despite the potent suppression of the hepatitis B virus with modern antiviral agents, only a minority of HBeAg-positive patients achieve hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion. We aimed to explore the potential efficacy of combination therapy consisting of pegylated interferon (p-IFN) and an oral antiviral agent in patients with HBeAgpositive chronic hepatitis B. METHODS The tre...

Consistent with capacity design principles and requirements of ductile behavior, the 2005 AISC and 2001 CSA seismic design codes require that the intermediate horizontal boundary elements HBEs of steel plate shear walls SPSWs be designed to remain essentially elastic with the exception of plastic hinges at their ends when the infill plates fully yield under seismic loading. However, the unexpec...

The aim of this study was to propose a protocol for assessment of markers of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in exposed health care professionals and to define criteria for evaluation of fitness for the job of the infected personnel. The study comprised 800 persons involved in operative procedures, including 414 surgeons, 275 nurses, and 111 anaesthetists. A g...

BACKGROUND The specific detection of a minor population of mutant DNA molecules requires methods of high specificity and sensitivity. While the single-allele base extension reaction (SABER) was shown to be useful for the detection of certain beta-thalassemia mutations, we encountered problems with false positivity during development of SABER for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of the hemoglo...

Introduction Bronchial epithelial cell death and airway inflammation induced by cigarette smoke (CS) have been involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. GRP78, belonging to heat shock protein 70 family, has been implicated in cell death and inflammation, while little is known about its roles in COPD. Here, we demonstrate that GRP78 regulates CS-induced necroptosis and injury in bronchial epithelial...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Energy expenditure in severe sepsis/septic shock patients was measured by indirect calorimetry and the correlation of energy expenditure between indirect calorimetry and predictive equations was determined. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN This was a prospective, observational analytical study. Severe sepsis or septic shock patients were measured for energy expenditure over ...

Antibodies to polymerized human albumin (poly-HSA) could not be detected by using sensitive methods (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunoprecipitation) in sera from chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or in serial bleedings from one chimpanzee infected with type A hepatitis virus and one infected with non-A, non-B hepatitis virus. By a solid-phase radioimmunoass...

b-thalassemia là một bệnh rối loạn di truyền lặn do đột biến gen HBB nằm trên cánh ngắn nhiễm sắc thể số 11 gây suy giảm tổng hợp chuỗi b-globin. Mỗi năm có khoảng 60.000 – 70.000 trẻ em sinh ra bị toàn thế giới trong đó Việt Nam. Trên 350 đã được công bố. Phát hiện người lành mang vai trò quan trọng tư vấn truyền, chẩn đoán trước và tiền làm tổ nhằm tỉ lệ bệnh. Nghiên cứu thực với mục tiêu “xá...