Detection of Hepatitis B Virus Drug Resistance Mutations By Pyrosequencing Method

WOS: 000463053800023Introduction: The development of drug resistance mutations to nucleos(t)ide analogues during long term therapy of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major concern leading to treatment failure. The aim of this study is to investigate of HBV drug resistance gene mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection by pyrosequencing method. Materials and Methods: Between December 2013 and May 2014. Serum samples collected from 137 patients of which 89 untreated (naive) and 48 treated patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were analyzed with real-time PCR test followed by pyrosequencing method (PyroStar HBV Drug Resistance Test, Altona Diagnostics Germany) for drug resistance mutations associated with lamivudin (LAM), adefovir (ADV), telbivudin (TEL), entecavir (EFV) and tenofovir (TDF). Results: Among 89 untreated patients, rtA 194 T imitation that may reduce susceptibility to TDF was found in 1 (1.1%) case. In 48 treated patients, rtM204I mutation causing,drug resistance to LAM, TEL and also cross-resistance to ETV was detected in 1 (2.1%) case. Compensatory mutation rtL180M was observed in 2 (4.2%) patients. The presence of rtM204V combined with rtT184S mutation indicating ETV resistance 'a as detected in I (2.1%) patient. Conclusion: The incidence of drug resistance mutations were found as 8.3% in treated and 1.1% in untreated patient group. The use of pyrosequencing technology before and during treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection would contribute to rapid detection of drug resistance mutations

Detection of Influenza Virus Infections by Molecular and Immunofluorescence Methods

WOS: 000428835400007PubMed ID: 29153067Influenza virus infections are extremely important for human health due to the occurence of seasonal epidemics and pandemics worldwide. Influenza is associated with high morbidity and may result in serious complications such as life threatening viral or bacterial pneumonia. Especially, young children, older adults, patients with chronic diseases such as heart, lung, kidney, and diabetes and immunosuppressed people are at higher risk for complications and death from influenza virus infections. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of influenza type A and B virus infections and influenza A virus subtypes in hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, Sacace, Italy), conventional RT-PCR and direct immunofluorescence antibody (DFA, Argene SA, France) tests. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from a total of 476 patients with respiratory tract symptoms by using flocked swabs (Copan Diagnostics, Italy) between 1 April 2012 and 31 December 2013. Influenza A virus was detected in 20.5% (98/476) and influenza B virus in 3.3% (16/476) of the cases by real-time RT-PCR test. During the study period, 63.3% of 98 influenza virus isolates were found as influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 and 36.7% were influenza A(H3N2) subtypes. Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 subtype was observed in 12 cases in January 2013 and influenza A(H3N2) subtype was observed in 11 cases in December 2013 as the highest values. When the real-time RT-PCR test was regarded as the reference test, the sensitivities of DFA test for influenza A and B and conventional RT-PCR test with WHO primers (M30F2/08 and M264R3/08) for influenza A were detected as 72.4%, 75%, 96% and the specificities were detected as 99.2%, 99.5% and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, influenza A virus infection was detected rather high with a rate of 20.5% in the study group. The monitoring of influenza virus types and subtypes is required for the evaluation of influenza vaccine strains and circulating influenza viruses and for the identification of subtypes with pandemic potential. Planning for appropriate antiviral therapy using real-time RT-PCR in the early diagnosis of influenza virus infections will significantly contribute to the management of the patient's treatment. Thus, unnecessary drug use will be prevented and controlled with effective treatment of the disease at the time of infection

Amorphous calcium phosphate-containing orthodontic composites. Do they prevent demineralisation around orthodontic brackets?

A preliminary study using laser fluorescence suggested that amorphous phosphate-containing orthodontic composites may prevent demineralisation around bonded orthodontic brackets

Does a chitosan-containing dentifrice prevent demineralization around orthodontic brackets?

Objective: To test the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference between the chitosan-containing and conventional nonfluoridated dentifrices in inhibition of enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets

Investigation of BK Virus Infections in Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

WOS: 000458773500015Objective: Haemorrhagic cystitis associated with BK virus (BKV) is a common and life-threatening complication in patients with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence of BKV infection in children with HSCT. Methods: A total of 21 patients aged 7 months to 16 years followed between July 2014 and July 2015 were included in the study. 19 of the patients received allogeneic HSCT and 2 received autologous HSCT. artus (R) BK Virus RG PCR Kit (Qiagen GmbH, Hilden, Germany) was used for detection of BKV DNA in urine and blood samples. Results: BKV infection was detected in 10 (47%) of 21 patients. Cystitis due to BKV developed in 4 (19%) of the patients. Haemorrhagic cystitis was observed to appear at a median of 23 days after HSCT. Urinary viral load was found to be >10(8) copies/pI within the previous week before the development of cystitis, and this finding has been accepted as a prognostic indicator. On the other hand, viral load in blood increased to >10(4) copies/mu l after 21-28 days from the onset of cystitis. All patients with cystitis were allogeneic HSCT recipients under myeloablative therapy (high-intensity regimen) for conditioning regimen. Conclusions: Screening of HSCT recipients for BKV infection, especially for viruria, is important for establishing the predictive diagnosis of patients at high risk for haemorrhagic cystitis and for better management of their treatment