The use of a new PCR-based method for the diagnosis of malaria in the Spanish Malaria Reference Laboratory has promoted an increase in confirmed cases of malaria. From August 1997 to July 1998, a total of 192 whole-blood samples and 71 serum samples from 168 patients were received from the hospitals of the Spanish National Health System. Most of the patients came from west-central African count...

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its variations represent highly sensitive and specific methods for Leishmania DNA detection and subsequent canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) diagnosis. The aim of this work was to compare three different molecular diagnosis techniques (conventional PCR [cPCR], seminested PCR [snPCR], and quantitative PCR [qPCR]) in samples of skin and spleen from 60 seropos...

OBJECTIVE We attempted to reveal the changes of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) alternative splicing pattern in gastric carcinogenesis. METHODS Three alternative splicing sites (alpha, beta, gamma) were selected and designed PCR primer. The expression of 8 hTERT alternative splicing variants (ASVs) in normal gastric mucosa, precancerous lesions and gastric cancer were detec...

PURPOSE To standardize and apply a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the glycoprotein D gene to differentiate Herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 & 2 serotypes in culture negative intraocular specimens. METHODS Twenty-one intraocular fluids collected from 19 patients were subjected to cultures for HSV and uniplex PCR (uPCR) for DNA polymerase gene. To differentiate HSV serotypes, as 1 & 2, a semine...

874 Emerging Infectious Diseases • Vol. 8, No. 8, August 2002 2. Arez AP, Snounou G, Pinto J, Sousa CA, Modiano D, Ribeiro H, et al. A clonal Plasmodium falciparum population in an isolated outbreak of malaria in the Republic of Cabo Vorde. Parasitology 1999;118:347– 55. 3. Mungai M, Tegtmeier G, Chamberland M, Parise M. Transfusion-transmitted malaria in the United States from 1963 through 199...

874 Emerging Infectious Diseases • Vol. 8, No. 8, August 2002 2. Arez AP, Snounou G, Pinto J, Sousa CA, Modiano D, Ribeiro H, et al. A clonal Plasmodium falciparum population in an isolated outbreak of malaria in the Republic of Cabo Vorde. Parasitology 1999;118:347– 55. 3. Mungai M, Tegtmeier G, Chamberland M, Parise M. Transfusion-transmitted malaria in the United States from 1963 through 199...

Distinguishing between thyroid malignant lymphoma and lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) is quite difficult and problematic. Molecular techniques to detect clonal lymphoid proliferation based on Ig heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement may be used to facilitate more accurate diagnosis of malignant lymphoma. We recently established a method for diagnosing thyroid tumors by analyzin...

Whipple's disease is a rare multisystemic bacterial infection with variable clinical manifestations. For decades, the laboratory diagnosis was based on the demonstration of periodic acid Schiff-positive inclusions in macrophages of gastrointestinal biopsies. PCR has improved the diagnosis of Whipple's disease due to its increased sensitivity compared to histopathological analysis. To avoid inva...

It was previously found that herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV1) when present in the brain, is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in carriers of the type 4 allele of the gene for apolipoprotein E (apoE epsilon4), and apoE epsilon4 is a risk factor for herpes labialis. Whether a specific allele of the gene is involved in susceptibility to another disorder caused by HSV1-herpes simplex encephal...