Trends in hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus seropositivity among blood donors over 15 years screened in the blood bank of a university hospital

Blood transfusion carries well defined risks including hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus transmission. In this study, records of blood donation candidates between the years 1996-2010 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 220 841 apparently healthy adult donors were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The overall prevalence of HbsAg and HCV were 1.07% and 0.39%, respectively. HBV seroprevelance decreased through years 1996-2010 but HCV seroprevelance showed a fluctuant course decreasing from 1996 to 2002. In order to decrease transfusion transmitted infections there should be centralized blood collection systems having qualified staff, equipment and non-remunerated voluntary blood donations must be strongly encouraged. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Investigation of beta globin gene mutations in Syrian refugee patients with thalassemia major

Objectives: This study, detection of beta globin gene mutations in thalassemia major patients who migrated from Syria to Kahramanmaraş region were planned. Materials and methods: The study included 35 Syrian national beta thalassemia major patients. Beta globin gene mutations were detected by ARMS (Amplification Refractory Mutation System) method, RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) method and DNA sequence analysis. Codon 15, codon 9/10, codon 5 and codon 8 mutations, which we could not detect with other methods in our study, were detected by sequence analysis. Results: In beta thalassemia major patients, 16 types of mutations were detected, the most common being IVS-I-110 (n = 8). Other mutations are according to frequency order IVS-II-745 (n = 3), codon 44 (n = 3), codon 15 (n = 3), IVS-I-110/IVS-I-1 (n = 3), codon 5 (n = 2), IVS-I-1 (n = 2), codon 8/IVS-II-1 (n = 2), codon 44/codon 15 (n = 2), IVS-II-1 (n = 1), codon 39 (n = 1), IVS-I-6/codon 5 (n = 1), codon 9/10 (n = 1), IVS-I-110/codon 39 (n = 1), IVS-I-5/IVS-II-1 (n = 1), codon 39/IVS-II-745 (n = 1). Conclusions: According to the results of our study beta-thalassemia mutations in Syrian immigrant groups show heterogeneity and mutation types of mutation map is similar to Turkey. The conclusion is to prevent families to have a second patient child by genetic counseling. © 2019 De Gruyter. All rights reserved.2015/2-43DAcknowledgments: This work was supported by grants from the Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam University Scientific research project management unit (project number: 2015/2-43D)