Of 22 children with congenital complete heart block (CCHB) available for study, 14 (63.6%) were born to 11 mothers with clinical or laboratory evidence of connective tissue disease, primarily lupus erythematosus (LE). Seven mothers had both clinical and laboratory evidence of disease while four had only positive laboratory studies including fluorescent antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, a...

This report describes the detailed procedures for Western blot analysis using fluorescent antibodies. After electrophoresis and subsequent electroblotting, the fluorescent-labeled antibodies were visible upon ultraviolet illumination of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes and could then be photographed to give an accurate record of the blots. Fluorescent labeling allows for photographi...

INTRODUCTION Human immunodefiecency virus infected patients did not adhere correctly to their Antiretroviral Therapy because of the drugs adverse effects. Thus, continuous evaluation of the adverse effect of Antiretroviral Therapy will help to make more effective treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Adverse Drug Reaction and associated factors on Antiretroviral Thera...

PURPOSE Anemia and growth retardation are common manifestations of HIV-positive children, which threaten their lives. Therefore, this study tried to assess the burden of anemia and the nutritional status of HIV-positive children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in eastern Ethiopa. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 108 records of children on ART followed up in Hiwot Fana Specialized Univer...

Background. Intestinal parasitic infection affects the health and quality of life of people living with HIV. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among HIV positive individuals who are naive and who are on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted ...

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) represent the main diagnostic markers for systemic autoimmune disease (AD), although their presence can be detected in blood donors. The aim of this study was to study ANA prevalence in healthy subjects of different racial groups, exposed to the same environmental factors, in order to understand the relevance of genetics or environment in determining autoimmunity. W...

Pitfalls in the method for demonstrating antinuclear antibodies (ANA) by the indirect immunofluorescence technique are described and the use of international standard preparations outlined. Determination of the optimal border dilution dividing positive from negative results is discussed. Each laboratory is a unique setting; it must define its own method, which should rarely be changed. One shou...