The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphisms and the occurrence of urolithiasis and dyslipidemia. A total of 180 Uyghur individuals, including 90 urolithiasis patients and 90 healthy controls, were enrolled in this study. The blood lipid profiles of the patients and controls were investigated and compared, and the composition...

Norovirus (NoV) is a major cause of gastroenteritis. NoV genotype II.4 (GII.4) is the predominant genotype in health care settings but the reason for this finding is unknown. Stool samples containing isolates with a known NoV genotype from 2,109 patients in Denmark (patients consulting a general practitioner or outpatient clinic, inpatients, and patients from foodborne outbreaks) were used to d...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Spinal tuberculosis (TB) is a common and dangerous form of extrapulmonary TB with unclear mechanisms in its occurrence and progression. This study investigated the clinical significances of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4), osteopontin (OPN), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism, mRNA and protein expression in spinal TB patients. METHODS BMP-4 and OPN gene polymo...

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) is a member of the IGF super family, and regulates the action of IGFs. The polymorphism of porcine IGFBP-4 gene in 17 pig breeds (total n = 570) was detected by PCR-SSCP, and alleles A and B were detected. In these pig breeds, it was found that exotic pig breeds carried high frequencies of allele A, while Chinese native pig breeds carried h...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a leading indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) worldwide. Recurrence of HCV following OLT is universal. There is scarcity of data on the post-OLT treatment of HCV genotype-4-the predominant genotype in North Africa and the Middle East. Herein, we present three patients who have experienced HCV genotype-4 recurrence post-OLT. All three p...

AIM To investigate interferon-γ-inducible protein-10's (IP-10) potential to anticipate rapid (RVR)- and sustained virological responses (SVR) to chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment. METHODS We included case series examining RVR or SVR in relation to 24 or 48 wk treatment for CHC, in patients treatment free for at least six months, with genotype 1 or 4, and in relation to 24 wk treatment for g...

OBJECTIVE To determine the distribution of HCV genotypes among the patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Dubai, UAE. METHODS This was a descriptive study conducted from January 2009 to June 2009 in the Medical and Infectious Diseases clinics at Rashid Hospital Dubai. The study was designed to include patient's demographics, clinical information including the various risk factors for ...