Diagnosing different stages of hepatitis B infection using a competitive polymerase chain reaction assay

Purpose: Different stages of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be defined by serum HBV DNA levels. This study attempts to (1) investigate serum HBV DNA levels in inactive carriers and patients with chronic HBV (CHB) infection and (2) define cut-off value between inactive carriers and HBeAg (precore antigen of HBV) negative CHB patients in Indian population. Methods: One hundred and forty samples encompassing 42 inactive HBsAg carriers and 98 CHB patients (53 HBeAg-positive and 45 HBeAg-negative) were analysed. Serum HBV DNA levels were determined employing an in-house competitive polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) assay. Results: The HBeAg-positive patients were found to have the maximum median HBV DNA load, which was significantly higher than the HBeAg-negative ones (median; 1.25 x 10 8 vs. 2.30 x 10 5 copies/mL ; P < 0.05). Interestingly, the latter group has significantly higher HBV DNA levels than the inactive carriers (median; 2.30 x 10 5 vs. 4.28 x 10 3 copies/mL ; P < 0.05). The 2.5 x 10 4 copies/ml HBV DNA levels were optimal for discriminating CHB patients (HBeAg-negative) from inactive carriers with 75.6 and 78.6% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Conclusions: Despite the extensive overlapping of HBV DNA levels in inactive carriers and HBeAg negative CHB patients, 2.5 x 10 4 copies/mL is the most favourable cut-off value to classify these individuals and would be imperative in the better management of this dreadful disease

M235T polymorphism in the AGT gene and A/G^I8-83 substitution in the REN gene correlate with end-stage renal disease

Background/Aims: This study aimed at investigating if M235T polymorphism in the AGT gene and A/G^I8-83 polymorphism in the REN gene correlate with End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Methods: We analyzed 173 ESRD patients and 329 individuals with normal kidney function for differences in the genotype distribution of AGT-M235T and REN- A/G^I8-83polymorphisms between the two groups. The data for cases and controls were compared using the &#967;² test. Results: We found significantly higher levels of serum creatinine and CRP in cases in comparison to controls (p &#60; 0.0001). Data comparison showed a significant association of AGT M235T substitution with ESRD in the dominant model (p = 0.008) and in the comparison of the heterozygous substitution with the homozygous common genotype (p = 0.005). Similarly, REN A/G^I8-83 polymorphism showed a significant difference in the distribution of genotypes between cases and controls (p &#60; 0.038) such that a heterozygous substitution was significantly more common in the ESRD cases in comparison to the homozygous common genotype (p = 0.023). Conclusion: We conclude that heterozygous substitutions at the AGT M235T and REN A/G^I8-83 loci correlate significantly with ESRD in a north Indian population

Supplementary Material for: M235T Polymorphism in the <b><i>AGT</i></b> Gene and A/G^I8-83 Substitution in the <b><i>REN</i></b> Gene Correlate with End-Stage Renal Disease

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> This study aimed at investigating if M235T polymorphism in the AGT gene and A/G^I8-83 polymorphism in the REN gene correlate with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We analyzed 173 ESRD patients and 329 individuals with normal kidney function for differences in the genotype distribution of AGT-M235T and REN-A/G^I8-83 polymorphisms between the two groups. The data for cases and controls were compared using the χ² test. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We found significantly higher levels of serum creatinine and CRP in cases in comparison to controls (p < 0.0001). Data comparison showed a significant association of AGT M235T substitution with ESRD in the dominant model (p = 0.008) and in the comparison of the heterozygous substitution with the homozygous common genotype (p = 0.005). Similarly, REN A/G^I8-83 polymorphism showed a significant difference in the distribution of genotypes between cases and controls (p < 0.038) such that a heterozygous substitution was significantly more common in the ESRD cases in comparison to the homozygous common genotype (p = 0.023). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> We conclude that heterozygous substitutions at the AGT M235T and REN A/G^I8-83 loci correlate significantly with ESRD in a north Indian population