Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) plays an important role in immune defense. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between hepatitis B virus infection and polymorphisms of MBL gene. We assessed the single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 54 in exon 1 of MBL in patients with hepatitis B virus infection and HBsAg negative controls in Korean population. A total of 498 enrolled subjec...

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measuring, in serum, immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA to Vi capsular polysaccharide antigen that was tyraminated (Vi-Tyr) to increase its binding efficiency to microtiter plates was compared with the standard passive hemagglutination assay (PHA) as a screening test for chronic Salmonella typhi carriers. Initially, three populations were evaluated...

Erythrocytes are the most abundant cells in the human body (~5.4 million cells/mm blood in a healthy male and ~ 4.8 million cells/mm blood in a healthy female) having potential carrier capabilities for the delivery of drugs and drug loaded microspheres. Drug-loaded carrier erythrocytes are prepared simply by collecting blood samples from the organism of interest, separating erythrocytes from pl...

BACKGROUND The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is spreading from high-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers, to the general population in China. This study examined the willingness of general residents in Heilongjiang, Northeast China, to participate in free HIV testing in the nearest health care setting, and the factors that may affect participation, including...

BRCA1, c.4096+3A>G was identified in a consanguineous Danish family with several cases of breast/ovarian cancer. In silico analysis and splicing assays indicated that the variant caused aberrant splicing. However, based on segregation data and the finding of a healthy homozygous carrier, we classify the BRCA1 c.4096+3A>G variant as likely benign.

We reported a case of a t(2;14) balanced reciprocal translocation carrier mother that conceived by IVF accompanied by PGD/PGS using array-CGH; however, de novo t(2;3) was detected in the prenatal diagnosis. A healthy baby was delivered, and careful observation is needed for PGD/PGS cases.

We report here the first whole-genome sequences for 3 strains of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (112N, 113N, and 114N) isolated in Africa. Samples of this opportunistic pathogen were collected from nasal swabs obtained from healthy carrier dogs in Botswana. The sequence information will facilitate spatial phylogenetic comparisons of staphylococcal species and other bacteria at the genome level.

We collected 3,397 consecutive isolates of coagulase-positive staphylococci from various specimens of hospitalized patients. All were retrospectively classified as Staphylococcus aureus, except two which were identified as S. intermedius: one isolated from the nasal flora of a healthy carrier and the other isolated from pleural fluid, probably as a sample contaminant.